India’s collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has led to a signing of an agreement to allow India to participate in the Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) which is due to take place in 2021. The previous occasion when India had taken part in PISA was in 2009, but the performance was unsatisfactory resulting in a low rank of 72nd out of the total 74 participating nations. Following this disappointing outcome, there was criticism regarding its testing methodology, stating that the questions were unrelatable and thus India decided not to take part in 2012 and 2015 cycles of PISA.
Understanding PISA
Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) is a triennial international survey that first originated in 2000. It is coordinated by the OECD and has a rotating domain of study focusing on reading, mathematics, and science for each cycle. Designed as a competency-based test, PISA evaluates the aptitude of 15-year-old students, assessing their literacy in reading, mathematics, and science, every three years. The aim of the test is to assess the ability of the students to apply their knowledge in real-life situations.
Participation of India in PISA
Schools affiliated with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and schools based in the Union Territory of Chandigarh will represent India in the forthcoming assessment. Test items aligned with international benchmarks will be used by PISA while OECD agreed on contextualizing questions for Indian students. The insights derived from PISA will aid in implementing competency-based examination reforms in the Indian school system. Thereby, it would potentially shift the focus from rote learning. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will be part of this transformation process.
Indian Education System: A Brief Look
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Current State | School education is largely one-dimensional with an excessive emphasis on marks. |
| Teacher Training | There is a lack of trained teachers across all levels. |
| Employability | Many university students are deemed unemployable due to inability to apply theoretical knowledge. |
| Public Expenditure | As per UNESCO, India has low public expenditure rates on education per student in comparison to other Asian countries like China. |
| Literacy Rate | India’s literacy rate of about 74 percent lags behind other BRICS nations with literacy rates above 90 percent. |
Advantages of PISA
The data obtained from PISA provides insights into common patterns amongst successful school systems. Additionally, the data reveals how school systems with substantial improvements have implemented common strategies during their reform process. This data can serve as a benchmark to understand the measures for success within school systems. Thus, an international benchmark such as PISA can prove beneficial in driving reform efforts across the globe.
Criticisms of PISA
Despite its benefits, PISA has faced criticism from the academic community. Critics argue that it contributes to an increasing obsession with standardized testing, excessively relying on quantitative measures rather than focusing on qualitative aspects of education. Furthermore, it is also criticized for shifting focus away from sustainable solutions towards temporary measures which are frequently adopted by countries to enhance their global standings.
