Assessment Spatial Perception Skills of Primary School Pupils: A Case Study at North Macedonia

Abstract

This research conducted a thorough evaluation of the geographical knowledge of primary school pupils in grades 3 to 5, focusing on the Republic of North Macedonia. The assessment involved a carefully crafted pre-atlas and post-atlas test, categorizing questions into Map and Atlas concepts (Category A), Directions, geographical regions, and neighboring areas (Category B), and Tourism and Economy in North Macedonia (Category C). The objective was to gauge pupils' proficiency in various aspects of geography while considering potential variations based on gender and grade level. The results, based on the accurate responses of 339 participants, revealed interesting patterns in knowledge distribution. The study highlighted both strengths and weaknesses, indicating varying success rates across categories and questions. Additionally, it unveiled gender-specific and grade-dependent differences in geographical knowledge. These findings offer valuable insights into the efficacy of current geography and spatial education approaches for young learners, emphasizing the necessity for targeted interventions to enhance spatial awareness and geographical literacy in primary education, especially primarily through the incorporation and utilization of maps and atlases within the lower grades of primary schools