
The latest results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 have sent shockwaves through the global educational community. Conducted every three years by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the survey assessed 690,000 students across 81 countries and economies. While Singapore secured the top rank, signaling a significant lead in mathematics, reading, and science, the overall findings pointed to an unparalleled dip in student performance, challenging conventional expectations.
Singapore emerged as the undisputed leader in the 2022 assessment, outshining its global counterparts in all three surveyed areas. According to the report, Singaporean students demonstrated an academic prowess equivalent to nearly three to five years ahead of their peers on average. The triumph extended to other Asian education systems, with Macao, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea following closely behind in mathematics and excelling in reading and science.
However, the report highlighted a contrasting trend globally, with significant performance declines in various regions. Countries such as Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland witnessed notably lower achievements in mathematics, contributing to what the report describes as an “unprecedented drop in performance.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly impacted education standards, the report emphasized that the decline was not solely attributable to pandemic-related disruptions. Long-term issues within education systems played a crucial role, evident in countries like Finland, Iceland, and Sweden, which, despite being previous high performers, have experienced declining scores for years.
The level of support provided by teachers and school staff emerged as a key factor influencing student performance. The report suggested that some education systems lacked sufficient resources for supporting students, emphasizing the need for efficient investment in the quality of teaching. Decreased parental involvement compared to 2018 further added to the challenges faced by students.
While there was a correlation between spending and academic performance, the report encouraged a nuanced perspective. It pointed out that countries committed to building robust education systems could achieve success even in adverse economic circumstances. The traditional divide between rich and well-educated nations and their poorer counterparts is evolving, with opportunities for educational excellence transcending economic boundaries.
In some cases, the 2022 decline equated to approximately a year’s worth of education. For instance, in mathematics, students in Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, and Sweden performed at the level expected of a 14-year-old in 2018, despite being 15 years old in 2022.
For the first time, the OECD explored students’ happiness, assessing nine aspects of their lives. In top-performing countries like Singapore, Macao, and Taiwan, many students reported high fear of failure and limited engagement in extracurricular activities. In contrast, countries with lower average PISA test scores, such as Spain and Peru, displayed lower anxiety levels and a greater emphasis on sports.
The PISA 2022 results paint a complex picture of global education, urging educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to reassess strategies and priorities for the evolving educational landscape.