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New Zealand began participating in two major international education research programmes – the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) – around 20 years ago. What have we learned so far?
PISA and PIRLS are two international comparative studies that are important for monitoring the performance of New Zealand’s education system, identifying both strengths and weaknesses. After approximately two decades of New Zealand’s participation in these programmes, it is timely to reflect on some of the many key learnings.
PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) is an international study that began in the year 2000. It aims to evaluate education systems worldwide by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year old students in participating countries. In 2015, over 70 countries and economies participated in PISA.
PISA assesses how far students near the end of compulsory education have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in society. PISA assesses three key areas – reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy – and focuses on one of these learning areas in each cycle. Students complete a two-hour test and a background questionnaire and principals complete a school questionnaire.
The PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) is an educational is an educational research study on children’s reading literacy achievement conducted in countries and jurisdictions around the world. The first study was conducted in 35 countries during 2001. Administered every five years, the study is designed to measure trends in the reading achievement of Year 5 students as well as providing countries and jurisdictions with a snapshot of achievement at each cycle.
As well as assessing students, PIRLS also collects background information, using questionnaires, from the students, their parents/caregivers, their reading teachers, and from the principals of the schools at which they attend.
The upcoming cycles of PISA 2021 and PIRLS 2020/21 will begin early in the new school year. These studies would not be possible without the support from schools and students who contribute their time and effort, and for that the Ministry of Education is tremendously grateful.
The results from PISA 2018 are scheduled for release on the evening of 3 December 2019.
BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz
Posted: 9:08 am, 22 November 2019
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