Romania, the lowest score on PISA test in the past nine years

Less over 50% of the Romanian pupils are able to use the knowledge learnt at school in the daily life. Romania has obtained the lowest score in the PISA test 2018 in the past nine years, both on mathematics- 430 points, Sciences-426 points and Reading-428 points, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) report released by the OECD.

The concerning results of the 2018 PISA test are lower than the ones in 2015 when Romania scored a slight regress compared to 2012.

Reading

In Romania, 595 of the pupils reached at least level 2 in reading, with the OECD average standing at 77%. That means the pupils can identify the main idea of a moderate-length text, can find information based on explicit criteria. Only 1% of the Romanian pupils performed on reading, meaning they could reach level 5 or 6, with an OECD average score of 9%.

Mathematics

The recent PISA results also show that Romania is among the three countries where performances on maths declined. Only in Romania, Malta and Taiwan the maths score is lower in 2018 than in 2015.

Performances on mathematics improved last year in 13 countries: Albania, Iceland, Jordan, Latvia, Macao (China), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Slovakia, Turkey and UK. Significant increase on maths were reported in Turkey, Albania and North Macedonia.

53% of Romanian students reached level 2 on maths (the OECD average score being 76%). That means these pupils can interpret and recognize, without direct instructions, the way a simple situation can be mathematically represented (for instance comparing the total distance on two alternative routes or converting the prices in a different currency).

In Romania, only 3% of the pupils obtained level 5 or higher on maths, with the OECD average score of 11%. These pupils could solve complex maths situations, compare and assess strategies to solve the problems.

Six Asian states grabbed the highest scores on mathematics: Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang (China) (44%), Singapore (37%), Hong Kong (China) (29%), Macao (China) (28%), Taiwan (23%) and South Korea (21%).

Sciences

Around 56% Romanian pupils reached level 2 in sciences, with the OECD average score standing at 78%, meaning pupils could at least give possible explanations in familiar situations or could draw conclusions based on simple investigations.

In Romania, only 1 percent of the pupils scored high in sciences, reaching level 5 or 6, while the OECD average score was 7 percent. That means these pupils could creatively and autonomously enforce the learnt science knowledge  in a wide variety of situations, including in the unknown ones.

According to Edupedu.ro, Romanian pupils taking part in the PISA exam took the tests on paper, likewise other 7 countries, among which there were Republic of Moldova, Argentina, Liban.

The rest of the 72 states took the tests online.

“The online tests are obviously quicker, more efficient and results can be processed more quickly. When over 70 countries take this test online and a small number of countries still use the pencil and paper it can only by an invitation to those countries to implement the online testing as well (…) PISA test is totally different from what means the communist public schooling in Romania. There are parallel worlds and hence Romania’s low score. If the school is not reformed, the predictable result will be as weak as before,” Marian Staș, education expert told RFI.

Romania rank first in European Union on functional illiteracy, which affect 42% of the Romanian pupils.

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