Rwanda is looking forward to the international assessment known as PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), which will show how the country’s quality of education compares on the global stage. This assessment is conducted among 15-year-old students in secondary schools.
PISA is an international evaluation that measures the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science.
The assessment aims to evaluate students’ ability to apply what they have learned in real-life situations. It focuses on their critical thinking skills and their capacity to solve problems.
For the first time, Rwanda has participated in the PISA program. The National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) says this is an important step in comparing national education standards with international benchmarks, which will help improve the quality of education in the country.
The head teacher of Groupe Scolaire Notre Dame de la Paix in Nyamagabe District, Father Jean Claude Nshimiyimana, says the assessment will help them understand their current level, so they can know where to focus their efforts to improve education quality.
He said, “We used to see changes in teaching methods and not fully understand the reasons behind them because we did not know where we stood. But now, reforms will be based on international measurement.”
One parent from Gicumbi District, Cyprien, says this international assessment will show Rwandans the current level of education quality, helping them know where to start in asking leaders to improve areas that are not performing well.
He said, “As school leaders, it will show us the level our children are at, and where they have weaknesses, we will look at what we can do based on the findings to further improve the quality of education.”
All the assessments have been completed, and the results are now being analyzed to identify challenges in the education sector so they can be addressed.
The Director General of NESA, Dr. Bernard Bahati, says the assessment will help determine Rwanda’s position, rather than simply comparing it with highly developed countries in education.
He said, “Many people look at the results and ask, ‘What rank am I?’ But joining PISA is not about competing with a country like Singapore, which often ranks first. The important thing is to know where we stand internationally.”
The PISA international assessment brings together more than 91 countries. It was launched by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1997. The first assessment was conducted in 2000 among 15-year-old students. Since then, PISA has been conducted every three years, testing students in reading, mathematics, and science.
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