The Policies that Shaped PISA, and the Policies that PISA Shaped

Abstract

In a globalized world, the yardsticks for public policy in education are no longer national goals or standards alone, but increasingly the performance of the most successful education systems internationally. International comparisons can be a powerful instrument for policy reform and transformational change by allowing education systems to look at themselves in the light of intended, implemented, and achieved policies elsewhere. They can show what is possible in education, in terms of quality, equity, and efficiency in educational services, and they can foster better understanding of how different education systems address similar problems. Most importantly, by providing an opportunity for policy-makers and practitioners to look beyond the experiences evident in their own systems, they hold out the promise of transformational change. The example of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows that data can be more influential than administrative control or financial subsidy, through which we traditionally shape education policy and practice.