OECD Expert Sunar Says He Expects Improvement in Science Literacy from Türkiye in PISA 2025

Sunar evaluated the performance expected from Türkiye in the PISA 2025 survey, which will be announced tomorrow by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), to the AA correspondent.

Reminding that while countries in the OECD average experienced a general decrease in performance in PISA 2022, Türkiye was one of the few countries that showed improvement in the last 10 years, Sunar informed that the area in which Türkiye came closest to the OECD average was science literacy.

Sunar pointed out that, in addition to the increase in the rate of high-level performing students in Türkiye, the rate of low-level students has also decreased, and emphasized that this success provides a good basis for creating strategic human resources in the fields that Türkiye will need in the long term.

Sunar said, "Turkey has achieved a very good momentum in science performance. We need to continue this momentum, and for this, we need to strengthen laboratory infrastructures in schools, transform teacher training in a practical way, and reflect what we do well in science to other fields." he said.

Pointing out that while the country average in mathematics decreased by 17 points in PISA 2022, Türkiye maintained its stability, but there were still points that needed improvement, Sunar continued as follows:

"39 percent of our students lack basic skills such as performing four operations or reading a simple graph. The picture becomes quite dark when we consider that 4 out of 10 students cannot do this. Especially in countries with successful education systems, this rate is below 10-15 percent. We also need to take precautions regarding mathematics. There is another situation that stands out for Turkey, mathematics anxiety. Turkey ranks first in students' mathematics anxiety. This is an issue we need to address from the early period because anxiety also affects mathematics performance. Mathematics "The mobilization has been started, we think it would be right to add targets that will reduce anxiety to this mobilization."

"We need to evaluate the potential correctly"

Reminding that science literacy was determined as the main area of PISA 2025, Sunar said, "Science literacy is the area in which Türkiye is strongest. Therefore, if we can continue the momentum we have achieved in PISA 2025, it is not difficult to predict that we will get good results." he said.

Stating that disadvantaged students in Türkiye are more successful compared to students at the same socioeconomic level, Sunar said, "There is a potential here. We need to evaluate that potential correctly. But of course, the priority should be to eliminate socioeconomic differences through equality of opportunity." he said.

Sunar stated that the Turkish Century Education Model overlaps with the indicators measured in PISA due to the transition to a skill-based curriculum, and that a significant success is expected in science literacy, and the results of this will be positively reflected in the general picture.

Emphasizing that the improvement in all systems should be examined instead of looking at the rankings and scores when the results are announced, Sunar said, "The system is actually considered successful when we improve the whole. Therefore, it would be a great success for us to reduce the rate of students who do not have the necessary skills to participate effectively in life." he said.

TEDMEM Director Sunar noted that reading comprehension skills are a very critical area and that indicators related to this area and anxiety towards mathematics are important.