Publication: Strengthening Kazakhstan's Education Systems : An Analysis of PISA 2009 and 2012
Date
2014-12-03
ISSN
Published
2014-12-03
Author(s)
World Bank Group
Abstract
Kazakhstan's Program for
International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 performance
improved markedly compared to 2009, and indicated a
narrowing achievement gap among students. Math and science
performance improvements equivalent to more than half a year
of schooling were achieved. According to the OECD, 40 points
in PISA is equivalent to what students learn in one year of
schooling. The improvements reduced the gap with other
countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) by almost half.
Moreover, the performance improvements of the lowest
achievers in 2009 and 2012 outpaced those of their higher
achieving peers at a rate that compares favorably against
OECD countries. However, performance on reading improved
only marginally and overall reading achievement remained
low, with some groups of students actually performing worse
in 2012. Kazakhstan's PISA performance places it
significantly behind other countries, especially in reading.
Countries with income per capita levels similar to
Kazakhstan's (namely Turkey and Russia) performed
significantly better in math, science, and reading. Most
importantly, Kazakh reading scores still lag about one year
of schooling behind the ECA average and almost two years of
schooling behind OECD. Public expenditures on education are
lowest in Kazakhstan compared with other PISA 2012
participating countries, which likely hampers the
country's ability to ensure effective learning for all.
Any increase in public spending on education will have to be
aligned with careful policy reform decision making, since
resources alone do not guarantee attainment of desired
education outcomes.
Citation
“World Bank Group. 2014. Strengthening Kazakhstan's Education Systems : An Analysis of PISA 2009 and 2012. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21101?show=full License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”