PISA Study
PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) is a study launched by the OECD to regularly test and internationally compare the performance of young people in the areas of reading, mathematics and science. In Switzerland, the federal government and the cantons work together on this. PISA findings are used in education monitoring and are published in the Education Report.
What is PISA for?
PISA supports the OECD's general objective of providing member countries with information to facilitate education policy decisions. PISA findings are used as the basis for recommendations on medium- and long-term measures to improve the performance and effectiveness of education systems.
PISA in Switzerland
PISA is jointly funded by the federal government and the cantons. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) share responsibility for PISA in Switzerland.
The University of Bern’s Interfaculty Centre for Educational Research (ICER) oversees implementation of PISA in Switzerland and works with regional universities, a cantonal research centre and the University of Zurich.
All findings and information relating to Swiss surveys can be found here: PISA Schweiz
For international comparisons and information about the OECD programme, please visit the OECD website: PISA OECD
Federal government's interest
PISA does not assess mere factual knowledge, but rather the ability of pupils to reflect on their knowledge and experiences and apply both to realistic scenarios. The federal government is keen to understand the performance of young people at the end of compulsory education, as this shapes all subsequent educational pathways. This is especially pertinent to upper-secondary education, with its vocational and general education tracks that follow directly after compulsory schooling.