PISA study lead in Latvia: 'Stop blaming teachers' for declining results
Newly published international PISA study data show that the performance of 15-year-old students in Latvia in reading, mathematics and science has dropped sharply, reaching its lowest level this century. The study's lead researcher in Latvia is urging people not to place sole blame on teachers.
Results from the international PISA study, published this week, show that the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students in Latvia in reading literacy, mathematics and science have declined sharply, reaching the lowest level recorded this century.
To discuss the findings and possible reasons behind the decline, Latvian Radio journalist Ilze Kuzmina interviewed Rita Kiseļova, leading researcher at the Institute for Educational Research, who heads the PISA study in Latvia.
A call not to blame teachers alone
In the interview, Kiseļova stressed that responsibility for the falling results should not be placed solely on teachers' shoulders. She called on the public to stop blaming teachers, noting that the outcomes of an education system depend on multiple factors rather than the work of one group alone.
PISA is one of the most widely recognized international instruments for comparing students' skills and knowledge across countries at a given age. Its results are often used to assess the effectiveness of national education systems and to guide future improvements.
The latest data on Latvia point to a negative trend that has continued for several years, with the current result being the lowest since the country began participating in this international assessment during this century.
