Education - Tackling the Consequences of the Pisa Study: A Call for Action
Germany's poor performance in the Pisa study has sparked a call for action from Saxony-Anhalt's Education Minister Eva Feußner. In a debate at the state parliament, the CDU politician emphasized the need for collective effort across society, stating, "we need to motivate pupils and teachers and not constantly talk everything down." This sentiment underscores the importance of strengthening core subjects and mastering the German language, with a particular focus on early language support before starting school.
The poor performance of German pupils in the Pisa study, a comprehensive assessment conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is a significant cause for concern. Among 15 to 16-year-olds, Germany scored the weakest in reading, mathematics, and science performances ever recorded for the country. This poor showing necessitates a reevaluation of the nation's educational policies and practices.
Feußner highlighted that top-performing countries in the Pisa test invest more in education than Germany. The minister also called upon parents to take responsibility, as their active participation in a child's education – through shared reading and conversation – plays a crucial role in a child's development.
The debate brought up opinions on various key education issues, including the country's structured school system. Some politicians advocated for binding school career recommendations, while others argued for extended joint learning and better support for pupils with a migration background.
To address the root causes of this poor performance, Feußner pointed out various factors, including the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on school closures and the increasing number of pupils with a migration background in schools. The German education system has been grappling with these challenges, and efficient strategies are being sought to tackle them.
International education experts and politicians have offered various recommendations for improving Germany's PISA scores. These strategies include:
- Reform of educational policies:
- Standardization and monitoring: A central institution established in 2001 for standardizing and monitoring education has proven beneficial in aligning school performance with international benchmarks.
- Curriculum changes: In 2006, Norway implemented curriculum changes emphasizing basic skills aligned with PISA objectives, which Germany followed suit in adopting.
- Teacher certification standards:
- Drawing inspiration from successful models: German education policy has revised teacher certification standards, drawing heavily from the Finnish model, which aims to improve the quality of education by enhancing teacher training and certification processes.
- Media literacy:
- Enhancing critical thinking and analytical skills: With the rise of misleading online information, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills among students becomes increasingly important – helping them distinguish credible information from misleading content.
- Addressing disparities:
- Addressing ethnic background disparities: New Zealand successfully addressed disparities in PISA results by studying successful education systems in Finland, Singapore, and South Korea. Germany could also learn from these experiences.
- Continuous monitoring and evaluation:
- Ongoing reforms: By using PISA as a tool for monitoring and evaluating performance, Germany can continue addressing areas requiring improvement.
Incorporating these strategies into German education will help tackle the underlying issues, such as the need for better teacher training, more effective curriculum design, and enhanced critical thinking skills among students.
