PISA and Our Human Resource’s Capacity

We are saddened and broken-hearted upon seeing the results of the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Hendrik Andriana teaches mathematics to two third-grade students on Wednesday (27/11/2019) at SDN 3 Karangwuni state elementary school in Karangwuni village of Sedong district, Cirebon regency, West Java. The two students make up the school’s entire student body.

PISA examined students’ abilities in reading, math and science. The result was that, in these three aspects, Indonesian students’ average scores were between 371 and 396, way below the global average of 500. Consequently, Indonesia is ranked 66 out of 76 participating countries. In 2016, Indonesia was ranked 62 out of 70 countries.

On the other hand, Chinese students excelled above all others in the survey. Quoting Bloomberg, Fortune cited that excellence in reading, math and science is a reserve for future economic strength and in the effort to maintain economic capacity.

The PISA study in 79 countries portrays the difficulties in improving education and how it is sometimes not in line with the efforts put out. In observation of this, OECD secretary-general Angel Gurria said, “It is disappointing that most OECD countries saw virtually no improvement in the performance of their students since PISA was first conducted in 2000.”

PISA assesses fundamental aspects of learning. Reading reflects level of literacy. Math and science reflect logic skills. Weakness in these aspects can mean that students have poor worldview and logical thinking capacity.

Read more : Please Focus on Real Issues!

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Students of SDN Gentong state elementary school receive trauma treatment on Monday (11/11/2019) at Madini Giniuri (madin) Al Ghofuriyah Gentong in Pasuruan, East Java.

The 2018 PISA result can be interpreted through two perspectives. First, in comparing it to the similar 2016 results we can make a grim conclusion. We can say it is understandable that many young Indonesians cannot excel and are instead irrational and unable to separate right from wrong.

The second perspective is that there is a tendency of weakening in our students’ capacity in the three aspects. Here lies the irony. First, we so euphorically welcomed our demographic bonus – an era when Indonesia enjoys an abundance of productive-age people 18 to 53 years old. However, with such grim PISA test results and an average of eight years spent in school amid the onslaught of technology such as artificial intelligence, robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT), can we convince ourselves that our youths are capable of responding to the challenges?

Our economy is stuck at consumption instead of innovation.

Regarding economics, the comments on Chinese students’ PISA excellence are spot on. An advanced economy is one supported by innovation and research and this is reachable only by those with proper logic and rationality. Meanwhile, our economy is stuck at consumption instead of innovation.

In such a desperate situation, desperate measures are necessary. Our educational system and methods have failed to produce excellence. Some may argue that the PISA test only captures a fraction of human capability, considering that there are various other excellences as cited in the multiple intelligence theory. However, in terms of core competencies, we have to accept this fact and implement drastic and fundamental improvements.