Finland continues to perform well in PISA survey!
The results of OECD's PISA2006 were published on December 4th 2007. Altogether 57 countries, "85% of the world's economy", participated at the international assessment. The results were released at the same time in different capitals of the OECD member countries. Mr Angel Gurria spoke in Tokyo about the assessment and its meaning to the countries.
PISA2006 continues to measure reading and mathematical skills of the 15 year olds at school. It also includes assessment of problem solving and utilisation of the knowledge. This time special focus is on the performance in sciences ( ability to utilise scientific knowledge, define questions and draw conclusions). The results reveal that although many of the 15 year olds are well informed about phenomena like climate change, still many of the age group seem to be ignorant of the seriousness of the challenges ahead.
Finland is performing again extremely well. The scores in all the subject areas are amongst the highest, as also in the earlier assessments. One remarkable finding of the PISA- assessment is that the between school differences in Finland are the smallest in the OECD countries. The system seems to take care of all the children, also of the weakest part of the student population. In Finland the share of the poor performers is the lowest in the participating countries.
- The good results of Finland in the PISA assessment are neither a miracle nor a surprise. The good assessment results are a product of determined actions and investments into an effective and equitable education system. The way Finland has implemented educational reforms throughout the years is something other countries should carefully study, says Dr. Andreas Schleicher, Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division in the OECD's Directorate for Education. - If one has to mention one factor that has contributed to the high quality and good performance in PISA, it is the quality of teachers. But there are other factors as well. A right mixture of steering from the national level and liberty of choosing the ways of implementation at local and school level seem to contribute to good performance.
- In Finland the parents do not have to worry about the choice of school for their children. All the schools are good, says Schleicher.
PISA 2006(Linkki toiselle web-sivustolle.) (avautuu uuteen ikkunaan)