The Programme for International Student Assessment PISA 2018 will begin in Bosnia and Herzegovina on April 4, 2018. The research is carried out by the Agency for Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Education of BiH and around 7,000 students from 70 schools in Republika Srpska, 5 schools in Brčko District and 138 schools in the Federation of BiH will take the PISA 2018 test.
The Agency for Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Education is the centre for PISA 2018 assessment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The overall sample includes 236 schools across Bosnia Herzegovina while the testing will be administered in 213 schools.
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a triennial international survey which aims to evaluate education systems worldwide by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science literacy. Apart from being very extensive, the assessment is not based on curricula and the reproduction of acquired knowledge but primarily draws on students’ ability to apply knowledge and skills and to analyse, reason and communicate effectively as they examine, interpret and solve problems.
The PISA assessment has started in 2000 with the neighbouring countries joining the study ever since 2006. Now, finally, Bosnia and Herzegovina has also joined PISA 2018 study, the seventh cycle of the assessment.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has launched PISA program with the aim of developing reliable and relevant indicators on student achievement with now 80 countries from all over the world participating in PISA 2018 study.
PISA assessment is conducted in three-year cycles with the aim of assisting participating countries in making strategic decisions in the field of education based on empirical statistical data on students achievements. In other words, PISA detects weak corners of the educational systems and indicates direction to be taken towards eliminating these weaknesses and improving the education.
PISA results do not affect the assessment of the students and teachers- they identify the state of the education systems and education policy. The observed results of pupils and schools are not assessed individually- they are presented as the overall achievements of the students at the country level.
Considering that in BiH, apart from TIMSS 2007 study, there has never been conducted any comprehensive and high quality international education study, the participation in PISA 2018 assessment should provide, in a quality manner, a real picture of the education systems in BiH and pupils achievements, and offer indications to developing better education strategies.