The latest education report from the OECD ranks 76 countries according to the percentage of the population that lacks basic skills. The report, by Eric Hanushek of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and Ludger Woessmann of the University of Munich, derives the ranking from the latest test scores from the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for 15-year-olds and the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) for 14-year-olds. In what BBC News called the “biggest-ever education league table,” Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan (again) top the charts. Coming in at number six, Finland is the top-ranking non-Asian country. Our latest scan of education news around the world finds many media reports highlighting the relative ranking of particular countries, but a number mention as well the report’s claims of a connection between improving performance on the tests and economic growth. At the same time, it is worth noting that not everyone agrees there is a straightforward relationship between performance on tests like PISA and TIMMS and economic outcomes. James Heckman and colleagues Tim Kautz, Ron Diris, Bas ter Weel, Lex Borghans, in particular, have emphasized that current tests like PISA and TIMMS “do not adequately capture non-cognitive skills, personality traits, goals, character, motivations, and preferences that are valued in the labour market, in school, and in many other domains.” As they explain in Fostering and measuring skills: Improving cognitive and non-cognitive skills to promote lifetime success and Hard evidence on soft skills, for many outcomes, the predictive power of non-cognitive skills rivals or exceeds that of cognitive skills.
“Global school rankings: Interactive map shows standards of education across the world,” The Independent
“Asian kids race ahead on learning: OECD,” The Australian
“Bottom in EU on OECD education league, again,” Cyprus Mail
“New education rankings from the OECD put Finland in sixth position worldwide—the top European country and the first non-Asian country in the list,” yle UUTISET
“OECD report links school achievement and economic growth; despite oil wealth, Arab world trails far behind,” Israel Times
“When it comes to education, Singapore is a world-beater,” The Straights Times
“Turkey ranks 41st in education on OECD report of 76 countries,” Today’s Zambian
UK below Poland and Vietnam in biggest ever international education rankings, TES Connect
“Improving Basic Education Can Boost U.S. Economy by $27 Trillion,” U.S. News & World Report
–Thomas Hatch
International Education News 