CDU's Karin Prien Slams PISA Results as "Urgent Crisis"
In the wake of the abysmal PISA results, Karin Prien, the CDU's Federal Vice President and Education Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, has called for immediate action. The dismal results echo those of recent national studies, making it no surprise yet still painfully apparent, Prien asserted on Deutschlandfunk radio.
The PISA study, published Tuesday, revealed Germany's dismal showings in reading, mathematics, and science, marking the lowest-ever scores within the OECD framework. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development announced the results.
Addressing the crisis, Prien advocates refocusing efforts on foundation skills and promotes their nurturing, even at preschool levels. She firmly believes that the seed of academic success is sown in nursery school, and more emphasis needs to be placed there.
Collaborating with the Schleswig-Holstein state government, special language support will be established in perspective schools for the upcoming academic year. Perspective schools in the region are recognized for their challenging social environments and benefiting from a dedicated support program.
Expanding on her beliefs, Prien emphasized that screening should be implemented across all school locations and insisted on reducing the connection between background and educational achievement through early intervention and enhanced math lessons. She also highlighted the importance of enhancing teacher training.
Swelling momentum for changes, Prien had already called for a shift from a welfare to a social education state before the PISA results were released. Education must move to the forefront of federal and state governments' budgets across various age groups, she argued.
Additional Insights:
- Research on Education in Germany: With enhanced research attention, Germany seeks to better understand its educational system. This highlights a growing focus on improving the education sector by investigating issues like ECEC quality and work-care patterns' impact on young children.
- Political Landscape: CDU/CSU and SPD coalition might spearhead educational reforms by relaxing the debt brake, allowing for new investments in education infrastructure. This move could potentially bolster academic results.
