Cormann made evaluations to the AA correspondent regarding the expectations for Türkiye's performance within the scope of PISA 2025, which will be announced tomorrow, and the qualitative transformation in education systems on a global scale.
Describing the impact of the pandemic process on the 2022 PISA results as "the worsening of the existing problem", Cormann said, "The goal is not just to return to our old level. Average results in reading and science in OECD countries have been declining since about 10 years before Covid-19. Then, mathematics experienced a sharp decline between 2018 and 2022, with a learning loss of approximately 15 points, that is, approximately 3 quarters of school years." made the statement.
Stating that the pandemic disrupted learning routines and separated students from their teachers and classmates, but some education systems performed well, Cormann said, "PISA 2022 revealed that these more resilient systems tend to have stronger parental support and safer, more organized classes. These lessons are still valid today. Now, the real test is not just to return to pre-pandemic levels. The aim is to strengthen the conditions that support better learning, strong basic skills, a sense of belonging at school, caring parents, safe and well-managed classes and the ability to learn independently." he said.
Stating that Türkiye has a real history of success that it can build on, Cormann said that PISA results have increased since it first participated in 2003, with some ups and downs along the way.
"Türkiye's scores in mathematics and science in PISA 2022 were among the best ever, and reading was close to its long-term average. Turkey is also doing something few countries have achieved, getting strong results from disadvantaged students. A third of students in Türkiye came from the most disadvantaged group of all students taking the test. Despite this, average mathematics scores were among the highest anywhere in the world among students from similar backgrounds," Cormann said. made his assessment.
"The strongest education systems will be those that enable disadvantaged students to reach their potential"
Cormann informed that in 2022, 61 percent of students in Türkiye will reach basic proficiency in mathematics and 5 percent will reach the highest levels, while these rates across the OECD are 69 percent and 9 percent.
Pointing out that it is necessary to increase the results on both sides in order to maintain progress, Cormann said:
"It is necessary to help more students learn the basics and more students reach the highest level. It takes time for reforms to show up in the results of 15-year-old students. Therefore, progress should be evaluated over several PISA cycles, not in a single PISA cycle. Türkiye's long-term direction is promising. The challenge now is to translate this into consistent and strong results shared by all students. PISA 2025 will give the next indicator of whether Türkiye maintains this progress."
Cormann stated that the OECD defines students from disadvantaged backgrounds who perform in the top quarter of their country as "academically resilient" and continued:
"In PISA 2022, 12 percent of disadvantaged students in Türkiye were academically resilient in mathematics, this rate was significantly higher compared to the OECD average of 10 percent. Disadvantage does not have to determine a student's future. Safe, orderly classrooms with strong support from parents and teachers make a difference. It also helps students to believe in their ability to learn, stay motivated, set goals and follow them. The aim is to reduce the fact that family background is the most important factor affecting a child's school success, which gives disadvantaged students "It means providing access to high-quality education and adequate learning opportunities. Going forward, the strongest education systems will be those that combine high performance with fair opportunities and enable more disadvantaged students to reach their potential."
"PISA 2029 will evaluate Media and Artificial Intelligence Literacy"
OECD Secretary General Cormann also shared the following information about global trends in education in light of the expected PISA 2025 results:
"Three things stand out. First, basic knowledge is still the most important area. In PISA 2022, 31 percent of students in OECD countries performed below the basic proficiency level in mathematics, 26 percent in reading and 24 percent in science. New skills should build on, not replace, strong reading, mathematical and scientific understanding. Students should be prepared to continue learning throughout their lives. Second, artificial intelligence raises the stakes on how students learn. Generative AI can help students complete a task." However, when artificial intelligence replaces the thinking and effort processes through which knowledge and skills develop, the learning process may be negatively affected. This makes it even more important for students to take responsibility for their own learning and for teachers to guide them.
Third, PISA has evolved to reflect these changes. PISA 2025 results, to be announced on September 8, will provide new evidence of students' use of artificial intelligence in their school work, their curiosity, their perseverance and their ability to take responsibility for learning. Speaking further, PISA 2029 will assess Media and Artificial Intelligence Literacy. This includes students' ability to evaluate digital content and use AI effectively, ethically and responsibly.”
