The Programme for International Student Assessment or PISA which was scheduled to be held in 2021 has now been postponed by one year to 2022. The postponement of PISA has been done keeping in view of the pandemic. The Ministry of Human Resource and Development has sent a letter to the Chandigarh Education Department in this regard. The schools of Chandigarh are to represent India in PISA this time.
In the letter from MHRD, it was stated that the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has confirmed that the PISA main survey scheduled for 2021 for the current cycle has been postponed by one year. The field trial which was scheduled for April this year, will now be held in 2021 instead, mentioned the letter. The MHRD, in the letter, also stated that the Secretary Department of School Education and Literacy wishes that with schools closed due to COVID-19, period of lockdown should be utilised to improve the reading skills (reading ability and speed with comprehension) of the children.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had selected Chandigarh UT for PISA 2021. India had last participated in 2009. PISA conducted every three years, is a competency-based assessment. It differs from content-based assessment in that it measures the extent to which students have developed key competencies that are required for participating wholly in modern societies. A triennial international survey, PISA aims to evaluate the educational system across the world by putting 15-year-old students to test in which their knowledge and skills are assessed. Students are tested on the basis of Science, Mathematics, Reading ability and collaborative problem-solving skills.
PISA 2022 will see participation of students from Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Kendriya Vidyalya Sangathan and schools in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
