Leaning Towards P.I.S.A.: Do the Ends Justify the Means?
The P.I.S.A. exam, or Programme for Internationale Student Assessment was put together by the O.E.C.D. (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in 1997. The first tests were administered in 2000. They test knowledge and its applications. The tests are given to students who are between 15 years and 3 months and 16 years and 2 months. They test math, reading, science, problem solving and financial literacy. They are supposed to test skills assumed to be necessary in our global economy. In addition, surveys are also given to students, parents and schools to assess demographics.
P.I.S.A. would not be my choice "yardstick" for measuring any nation's educational system for several reasons.
1. Cultural biases may be inherent in the test and in its translation. Roughly one-half million students take the test in 65 countries. According to some, even the very way in which students attempt to complete the exam is largely embedded in culture. In some countries, students attempt to complete every question