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Mathematical equation: In the most recent PISA study, Germany performed rather averagely
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Thomas Trutschel / photo library / IMAGO
A year later than originally planned, the new PISA tests started this Monday in Germany.
The test phase runs until May 27, as announced by the Center for International Educational Comparative Studies (ZIB) at the Technical University of Munich, which is responsible for the PISA study in Germany.
According to this, around 7,700 15-year-olds at around 270 schools in the country are taking part in the tests this time.
The survey, initially planned for 2021, had been postponed by a year due to the corona crisis by the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD).
The PISA study is the largest international school performance comparison.
Pupils aged 15 are usually tested every three years.
By default, it is about tasks from the areas of mathematics, reading and science.
In the last study, which was carried out in 2018, Germany's schoolchildren had performed rather averagely.
Young people from 79 countries took part.
Mathematics for the third time the focus of the tests
Each test phase has a focus.
After reading skills last time, according to the German PISA coordinators, special attention should now be paid to mathematics again - as was the case in 2003 and 2012.
For the last ten years, another competence has been examined that is also relevant for lifelong learning, this time it is "creative thinking".
The previous test was about "global competence", i.e. how well the students find their way in a highly networked world that transcends national borders.
In addition to the pure performance tests, questionnaires are also distributed to pupils, teachers and parents in the course of the PISA study in order to collect information on everyday school life, learning behaviour, social background or other personal data.
A special evaluation is carried out for this purpose.
This time, questions should also be asked about how long the school was closed due to Corona, how well the students felt supported, or how they assessed their learning progress.
consequences of the corona pandemic
"We expect that this Pisa study will be an important building block in order to be able to classify the effects of the pandemic and compare them internationally," said ZIB professor Doris Lewalter, who heads the German part of the study.
It should be noted, however, that the PISA studies examined how well 15-year-olds could apply basic skills in everyday situations.
»It's not about asking about the knowledge given in the curricula.
Further studies are therefore necessary for an overall picture of the consequences of the corona virus.«
OECD Director of Education Andreas Schleicher said of the possible effects of the pandemic: "Especially for students who were not used to learning independently, who did not have access to alternative digital offers or did not have the necessary supportive environment at home, school closures have certainly left long-term traces. «
Above all, however, the international comparison will show which education systems have been best able to react creatively and flexibly to the changed challenges and to limit the effects of the pandemic on educational success.
“Performance data from national learning assessments are already showing us that there does not necessarily have to be a sustained drop in performance,” said Schleicher.
The results of the PISA study, which is now beginning, are to be published in December 2023.
sun/dpa