PISA Test Results Raise Questions About Student Resilience Amidst Disruptions

Recent PISA test results have sparked debate in Israel, with the typical focus on the country's ranking and perceived failures in the education system. However, the author argues that a more fundamental question needs to be asked: who were the students actually tested? The article contends that the students who took the exams have not experienced a normal educational environment over the past five years, facing disruptions from COVID-19 lockdowns, remote learning, and the ongoing war.

These students have endured prolonged periods of uncertainty, with many experiencing displacement, parents serving in reserve duty, and a general lack of routine. Their teachers have also faced similar challenges, including military service, staff shortages, and classroom instability, making consistent educational processes difficult. While acknowledging the importance of analyzing the education system and teaching quality, the author stresses that PISA results must be interpreted within this context.

Expecting a generation that has faced such unprecedented disruptions to perform as if nothing has happened is unrealistic, the author suggests. The more pertinent question is not just why scores have declined, but what these past five years have done to the children and what they need now to move forward. Research by the Ramon Foundation indicates that young people feel a lack of agency and control over their lives, a sentiment linked to academic performance.

Learning requires not only information but also a sense of capability, where students believe their efforts lead to results and they can influence their own path. When children live in a reality of constant uncertainty and decisions made above their heads, their ability to focus on learning is compromised. This situation calls not for lowering expectations, but for understanding what is needed to help them regain their confidence and drive.

The author concludes that the role of organizations like the Ramon Foundation, which operate outside the formal school system, is crucial. These organizations aim to foster essential skills such as capability, initiative, curiosity, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. In a rapidly changing world and a country that has demanded extraordinary adaptability from its youth, these 'soft skills' are fundamental. Helping children believe in their ability to influence their future is key to motivating them to invest in their present.