Improving PISA results requires a multifaceted approach involving government policies, educational strategies, and community involvement. Recommendations to improve PISA results must be aligned with fostering 21st-century skills. These skills emphasise critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, and socio-emotional learning, essential for success in today's interconnected and rapidly changing world. This is the view of Penang Institute, in an article published on 16 May 2024.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org
Here are some of their key policy recommendations with minor adjustments (by this blog writer):
1. Strengthen Training Programme/Workshop/Professional Development:
· Training in Modern Pedagogical Approaches: Provide teachers with continuous professional development opportunities to enhance their teaching methods. Emphasise student-centred learning, project-based assessments, and the incorporation of technology to engage students and foster critical thinking.
· Specialised Training: Offer specialised training in areas identified as weaknesses in the PISA results, such as Mathematics and Reading.
· Evaluate training effectiveness: Training should be evaluated to see how effective teachers’ current training offerings are. Measuring training effectiveness can be conducted through one-to-one discussions, surveys and questionnaires, post-training quizzes, and assessments.
· Incorporate Assessment Literacy: Equip teachers with the skills to design assessments that align with PISA objectives.
2. Curriculum Enhancement:
· Reform the Curriculum: Review and update the national curriculum to ensure it aligns with global standards and emphasises critical thinking, problem-solving, languages and practical application of knowledge.
· Enhance STEM Education: Incorporate a comprehensive range of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
3. Invest in Educational Resources:
· Modernise Learning Materials: Provide schools with up-to-date textbooks, digital resources, and educational technology to enhance learning experiences.
· Expand Access to Quality Education: Ensure equitable access to quality education by investing in schools in underserved areas and providing technology-rich environments supports to disadvantaged students to promote digital literacy, creativity, and collaboration among them.
4. Reduce Class Sizes:
· Smaller Classes: Implement policies to reduce class sizes, allowing teachers to provide more personalised attention to students, fostering communication skills, teamwork, and socio-emotional development which can improve learning outcomes.
5. Enhance Assessment and Feedback Mechanisms:
· Formative assessment, by providing real-time feedback, enabling adjustments in instruction, identifying learning gaps, fostering engagement and motivation, and involving parents, can enhance students’ learning outcomes and, consequently, improve their performance in assessments like PISA.
· Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilise PISA and other assessment data to inform policy decisions, identify areas for improvement, and track progress over time.
· Implementing formative assessments and data-driven decision-making skills empowers students to reflect on their learning, set goals, and adapt their strategies, fostering self-directed learning and accountability.
6. Foster a Culture of Lifelong Learning:
· Promote Extracurricular Activities: Encourage participation in extracurricular activities that promote teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills, resilience, and adaptability, essential for lifelong learning and success in diverse settings.
7. Accountability:
· Hold school principals, teachers, and administrators accountable for student performance by linking funding and resources to educational outcomes.
8. Collaborate with International Partners:
· International Collaboration: Collaborate with international organisations, educational experts, and top-performing countries to share best practices, resources, and innovative strategies for improving educational outcomes.
· International collaboration promotes global awareness, cultural competence, and the exchange of diverse perspectives, enhancing students’ adaptability and open-mindedness.
9. Invest on Early Childhood Education:
· Expand access to high-quality early childhood education programmes to ensure children are well-prepared for primary school and that they develop a strong foundation in literacy, numeracy, creativity, and socio-emotional skills for lifelong learning and adaptability.
10. Address Socioeconomic Disparities:
· Implement policies to address socioeconomic disparities in education by providing targeted support to disadvantaged students, including scholarships, tutoring, and mentorship programmes.
Equitable access to education and targeted support for disadvantaged students will foster inclusivity, empathy, and social responsibility, preparing students to contribute positively to their communities and society. Incorporating these recommendations into educational policies and practices will improve academic performance and cultivate a well-rounded education that nurtures 21st-century skills.
What is not said by the Penang Institute is rather critical – intake of new teachers should reflect the racial composition of this nation; remuneration must be upgraded to secure the best (or near best) for this profession; headmasters/principals are selected on competency and ability not race or connections; facilities are upgraded with proper and periodical audits by district education officers; schools are ranked by their results; UPSR and PMR exams are re-introduced; DLP is promoted in all national schools; and parents are engaged actively for feedback.
Could we do that? Not likely with the present Minister of Education!
Reference:
Improving PISA results, Penang Institute, 16 May 2024
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