About PISA:
- PISA was introduced by OECD in 2000.
- It tests the learning levels of 15-year-olds in reading,mathematics and science.
- The test is conducted every three years.
Why India had stayed away from PISA?
- India participated in this programme until 2009.
- However, in 2009, India was placed 72nd among the 74 participating countries.
- The then government had criticized the parameters used in this assessment.
- According to the government “out of context” questions asked in this programme were responsible for this dismal performance.
- Subsequently, India chose to not participate in the 2012 and 2015 cycle.
What has changed now?
- The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), at the government’s behest, set up a committee to review the matter.
- In its report, submitted in December 2016, it recommended that the country should participate in the 2018 test cycle.
- Later a similar recommendation was made in 2017 by the group of secretaries on education constituted by PM.
