PISA study: Latvia's student performance drops to lowest level this century
This week's release of international PISA study data shows a sharp decline in the performance of Latvia's 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics and science. The study's Latvian coordinator, Rita Kiseļova, urges against blaming teachers alone for the drop.
New results from the international PISA student assessment study were published this week, revealing a sharp decline in the performance of Latvia's 15-year-old students in reading literacy, mathematics and natural sciences. According to the data, the current results represent the lowest level recorded in Latvia this century.
Latvian Radio journalist Ilze Kuzmina interviewed Rita Kiseļova, who coordinates the study in Latvia and works as a leading researcher at the Institute for Educational Research, about the results and their possible causes.
A call to look beyond teachers
In the interview, Kiseļova took a clear stance, calling on the public and decision-makers to stop attributing the decline in student performance solely to teachers. Her statement — "Stop blaming the teacher!" — became the headline of the interview, underscoring that explaining the situation requires a broader perspective.
PISA is one of the most significant international tools used to compare the performance of education systems across countries, assessing the skills of 15-year-old students in three core areas: reading, mathematics and science. This year's results indicate a notable regression for Latvia compared to previous decades.
Further details on the specific causes of the decline and possible solutions are discussed in the full Latvian Radio interview with the researcher.
