Pisa study: poor report card for the German education system

Questions & Answers - Pisa study: poor report card for the German education system

For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, Germany has received a new Pisa report card - and the results are devastating. German pupils performed worse than ever before in the international Pisa performance study in 2022.

How exactly did Germany perform?

In reading as well as in mathematics and science, these were the lowest scores ever measured for Germany in the Pisa study. German pupils performed particularly badly in mathematics. They achieved a score of 475, compared to 500 in the previous study published in 2019. They scored 480 in reading (2019: 498) and 492 in science (2019: 503).

And what about the other countries?

Average performance has also fallen drastically internationally. According to the report, there has been an unprecedented drop in performance in this cycle. "Compared to 2018, the average performance in OECD countries fell by 10 points in reading and almost 15 points in mathematics."

According to the OECD, this decline is particularly pronounced in a handful of countries - including Germany. Poland, Norway, Iceland and Germany, for example, recorded a drop of 25 or more points in mathematics between 2018 and 2022. "The dramatic decline in math and reading literacy scores indicates a negative shock affecting many countries simultaneously," the paper states.

Which countries are top performers?

According to the researchers, young people in Japan and Korea have the highest average skills in mathematics. In reading, Ireland, Japan, Korea and Estonia are at the top. In science, Japan, Korea, Estonia and Canada achieved the best results.

What else is special about the German results?

The researchers warned that in Germany, more than in other countries, origin still determines academic performance. If children start with poorer prerequisites, this often continues throughout their entire school career, said study director Doris Lewalter, education researcher at the Technical University of Munich and Chair of the Board of the Center for International Comparative Studies in Education.

What is the Pisa study anyway?

The Pisa study is the largest international study comparing school performance. It measures the skills of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science. It has been carried out every three years since 2000. This time, the focus was on mathematical skills.

Who takes part in the study?

81 countries worldwide and more than 600,000 young people took part in the most recent survey in 2022. The sample, which is representative for Germany, comprises around 13,000 pupils aged 15 in all school types.

How does the study work?

The tests for the Pisa study now mainly take place on computers. The pupils have to click their way through various tasks. USB sticks are distributed to schools by testers, where the pupils then solve tasks on the computer in the areas of reading, math and science. The test lasts around two hours and consists mainly of multiple-choice questions in which the pupils have to choose from predefined answer options. In addition, students, teachers, school administrators and parents answered questions on socio-economic background, learning times and learning environment, computer use and lesson design as well as attitudes and expectations of young people.

Why do Pisa studies play a major role?

According to the OECD, the unique thing about this study is its global reach and regular implementation. As the survey takes place every three years, the participating countries can monitor their progress in implementing important learning goals. In Germany, the results of the first survey in 2001 even caused a major "Pisa shock".

What was the "Pisa shock"?

In the first comparative study, German 15-year-olds performed poorly, and the Pisa report also showed a shamefully close correlation between social background and educational opportunities. This triggered a fierce debate on education. After that, the results in the Pisa studies steadily improved, but since 2016 the scores have been falling again.

Why are the results so poor this time

The authors of the study cite the coronavirus pandemic as one of the causes. The results show that the school closures had a negative effect on skills acquisition. In Germany, distance learning was taught less with digital media and more with materials sent to young people than the OECD average. However, the analysis of the international data shows that there is no systematic correlation between the duration of school closures and declines in performance between 2018 and 2022.

Are there other reasons?

Another possible factor is a lack of language skills. "One key reason is certainly that we have still not managed to ensure early language support for all those who need it," said study director Lewalter. "If we have pupils from immigrant backgrounds, we cannot assume that they have already mastered the German language of education when they come to Germany."

What are the reactions to the debacle?

The Education and Training Union (GEW) has called for a master plan to combat educational poverty and social injustice. "The Pisa results are very problematic for the life and career opportunities of many pupils and shameful for school policy," said Anja Bensinger-Stolze, GEW board member. "Germany has had both a performance problem and a glaring equity problem for decades."

Employer President Rainer Dulger reminded the audience that today's students are the trainees and employees of tomorrow. "These minds are the building material of our future and the engine of our prosperity," he said. "If those responsible do not act now, the loss of skills will be irreparable. We need an almost revolutionary new start in our education system."