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Cover Story

Why Singapore topped PISA 2022 (10 percent).
Parental involvement in learning. In 2022, 24 percent of students
he island nation of Singapore (pop.5.4 million) is in Singapore were in schools where principals reported that
ranked #1 in PISA 2022, results of which were declared during the previous academic year at least half of all families
Tlast month. Since it participated for the first time in discussed their child’s progress with a teacher on their own
PISA 2009 (same year India participated for the first and only initiative (and 83 percent on the teacher’s initiative).
time), its 15-year-olds have consistently improved their per- Resources invested in education. In Singapore, the cumulative
formance in reading, science and mathematics. From being expenditure per student between ages 6-15 is equivalent to
ranked #5 in 2009, Singapore has climbed up to #1 position about USD 166,100 (PPP) cf. India’s 1,575 (2021-22).
in PISA 2022 which focused on mathematics, with reading How students’ progress through schooling. When they wrote PISA
and science as minor subjects. in 2022, 93 percent of 15-year-old
In all three subjects, Singapore’s students in Singapore were enrolled
mean performance was higher than in 10th grade (OECD average 90 per-
in 2009. In PISA 2022, 92 percent cent).
of students attained at least Level 2 In Singapore, 99 percent students
proficiency in mathematics (OECD reported that they had attended pre-
average: 69 percent), 89 percent primary education for one year or more
attained Level 2 or higher in read- (OECD average: 94 percent). On aver-
ing (74 percent) and 92 percent at- age across OECD countries, students
tained Level 2 or higher in science who had attended preschool for one
(76 percent). year or more scored higher in math-
The elaborate PISA 2022 results ematics at the age of 15 than students
highlight some facts which have Singapore 15-year-olds who never attended or who had at-
propelled Singapore to #1 position. tended for less than one year.
Excerpts: School autonomy. In Singapore, 20 percent of students attended
Support and discipline in mathematics lessons. In Singapore, 77 schools where principals had the main responsibility for hiring
percent of students reported that, in most mathematics les- teachers (OECD average: 60 percent), and 77 percent were
sons, teachers showed interest in every student’s learning enrolled in schools where teachers had the main responsibility
(OECD average: 63 percent), and 86 percent said teachers for choosing which learning materials are used (76 percent).
provide assistance when students need it (70 percent). Many high-performing school systems entrust principals and
Feeling safe at and around school. PISA 2022 data shows that in teachers with these responsibilities.
Singapore students feel safer and less exposed to bullying NB: In PISA 2018, China (Shanghai) was ranked #1 overall
and other risks in their schools. Only 3 percent of students re- across reading, maths and science. In PISA 2022, with China
ported not feeling safe on their way to school (OECD average: (Shanghai opting out), Singapore, China (Macau), China (Hong
8 percent); 4 percent reported not feeling safe in classrooms Kong) and China (Taipei) are ranked among the Top 5. All
(7 percent); 7 percent of students reported not feeling safe these countries are dominated by people of Chinese ethnicity.
at other places at school (e.g, hallway, cafeteria, restroom) (Source: www.oecd.org)

troduced NAS testing. Although NAS of IIT-Madras and IIM-Ahmedabad ernments to ensure that they repre-
has become rigorous over the years, and co-founder and chief learning of- sent a country or mutually agreed
domestic testing can’t substitute inter- ficer of the Bengaluru-based Educa- region within large countries. Given
national assessment,” says Dr. Geeta tional Initiatives Pvt. Ltd (estb.2001), the prolonged closure of our schools
Kingdon. An alumna of Oxford Uni- a pedtech (pedagogy with technology) because of the Covid pandemic, clearly
versity and the London School of Eco- enterprise whose mission is to “create the government felt our children were
nomics, Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon a systematic shift in the way teachers unprepared for PISA 2022. But with
is chair of education economics and teach and students learn”, describes NEP 2020 having mandated com-
international development, Univer- India’s decision to opt out of PISA petency-based education and board
sity College London, and president of 2022 as “unfortunate”. “This interna- exam reforms, India will be better pre-
the City Montessori School, Lucknow tional triennial test for 15-year-olds is pared for future PISA examinations,
(CMS, estb.1959), certified as the designed in consultation with all par- if this mandate is implemented,” says
world’s largest city school by Guin- ticipating countries and the represen- Rajagopalan.
ness World Records (57,000 students, tative sample of students who write Quite clearly, the Union govern-
2,196 teachers in 17 campuses). it is scientifically selected by PISA in ment’s decision to rescind its resolve
Sridhar Rajagopalan, an alum consultation with participating gov- to participate in PISA 2022 was driven

56 EDUCATIONWORLD JANUARY 2024