The results of the PISA 2022 report have placed Ireland as one of the countries with the best school performance of the European Union and of the OECD. The result has been especially good in reading: the country has been placed in second position in a list of 81 economies, only behind Singapore, while in Math and science It has obtained the third best result in the EU and has risen to the top ten positions among the 37 OECD countries. Some data that is not the result of chance: the country has launched a series of measures in recent years, especially focused on the teacher training and in the support for the most disadvantaged studentswhich have been decisive in the success of your educational model.
After poor results in 2008, the country introduced more hours of language and mathematics, reinforcement for the most disadvantaged students and more training for teachers
The Irish Government implemented 2011 a new strategy for improve student performance in Language and Literature and in Mathematics, which provided them with additional attention and support. The main objective was to increase the time available for teaching the two subjects and improve evaluation mechanisms. “There was more research into the pedagogies that were most successful,” he explains. Áine Hyland, professor emeritus at the University of Cork and one of the main leaders in educational research in the country. “Greater importance was given to way in which mathematics and reading were taught based on evidence-based success strategies.
In the circular issued that year by the Irish Ministry of Education in 2011, instructions were included to increase the number of hours dedicated to language and mathematics in primary education. In the case of language, it was recommended to add one more hour a week until 8.5 hours (split between English and Gaelic), while in the math This increase was 70 minutes per week, going from 3 hours to 4 hours and 10 minutes.
Defined curriculum
In addition to reinforcing student learning in these subjects, the improvement in teacher trainingwhich was extended for another year in 2011, and the implementation of a structured, defined resume and homogeneous for all centers, which has helped teachers have clearer guidelines and guidance to achieve objectives. “In places like Scotland or Finland, teachers have been greatly encouraged to develop their own programs. But if they teach 25 or 26 hours a week and also have to mark assignments and exams, it is not realistic for them to keep up with educational research and that they know what the best teaching method is,” explains the academic. “The teachers need clarity and supportand that has worked in Ireland so far.”
“Teachers need clarity and support, and that has worked in Ireland so far”
Professor Emeritus, University of Cork
The country has also made efforts in recent years to reduce the educational gap according to the socioeconomic level of the students. In 2017, the Government launched a plan to strengthen aid to children and young people at risk or educationally disadvantaged (the DEIS plan, in its acronym in English). One of the supports included in the plan is focused on the professional development of teachers in the field of language and mathematics programs, something that, according to experts, has contributed to the good results of students in the PISA report.
Another key lies in a more effective response to the pandemic than in other countries. Although schools were closed for a similar time to other countries, the impact on students was not as significant in some aspects. According to a study published by the Educational Research Center (Centre for Educational Research), 57% of students in Ireland did not receive help from a family member during confinement, compared to the average of 45% in OECD countries.
Something that the authors of the report attribute to “relatively high degree” in which the distance classes in Ireland during school closures. “In my opinion, this emphasizes the commitment of our teachers, as they ensured that the most disadvantaged students had access to computers with internet and continuous communication with schools during lockdown,” highlights Hyland.
Emer Smythan educational researcher at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Ireland, is more cautious when evaluating the impact that the pandemic has had on student performance. “With a test like PISA, which is not specifically linked to the national curriculum, it is very difficult to know if the results in Ireland are related to better management of the pandemic at the educational level,” says the researcher, who points out that, despite the good results, the level in mathematics has decreased eight points compared to the previous report. “I certainly think it will be related to the disruptions caused by covid”.
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Smyth places special emphasis on the strategy implemented in 2011 and the DEIS plan as the main reasons for the good results of the students in the 2022 report, especially in language. “The strategy promoted in 2011 was a consequence of the negative results obtained in a previous PISA report. Since then, more time has been allocated to language and mathematics, emphasis has been placed on improve reading levels for students with fewer skills and a greater effort in the professional development of teachers,” he points out.
The remarkable work of teachers has been essential to achieving the objectives, although Smyth warns that the lack of professionalsdetected in recent years, could negatively affect Ireland’s results in the future.