The Second ICESCO Ministerial Conference on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) kicked off today, Monday, May 13, 2024. The Conference is organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in Baku, Azerbaijan. It aims to discuss the results of the 2022 PISA program, exchange experiences and best practices, and address challenges in the field, with the participation of over 40 representatives from relevant educational bodies in ICESCO Member States.

At the outset of the Conference, which is being held both in-person and via video conferencing over two days, Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Education and Science, delivered a welcoming speech emphasizing the importance of the Conference’s topic in advancing educational systems and formulating effective policies, highlighting Azerbaijan’s efforts in enhancing the quality of education to align with international assessments.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, reaffirmed that the Conference is a testament to the Organization’s steadfast commitment to supporting progress and excellence in educational fields in its Member States, and leading joint action to achieve the fourth goal of sustainable development (SDG 4), which aims to ensure an inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik noted that the PISA program, which aims at assessing students’ competencies in various fields including reading, writing, mathematics, and science, saw the participation of 81 countries in 2022, including 10 ICESCO Member States, and its results showed a significant decline in student performance, necessitating intensified efforts by decision-makers and specialized educational authorities.

In the context of emphasizing the role of educational system development in the prosperity and economic advancement of societies, Dr. Al Malik outlined ICESCO’s proposed solutions to the decline in students’ performance according to PISA assessments. The list of proposals starts with raising awareness of the Program’s importance in the Islamic world and establishing a strong network of educational assessment experts in the Member States to meaningfully participate in the Program’s development. He also highlighted the Organization’s keenness to prioritize the proposals and recommendations emanating from participants in the Conference.

For his part, Mr. Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills at OECD, touched upon the importance of teacher training and enhancing their skills, anchoring collaboration with parents and guardians in the learning process, and improving teaching quality in schools.

In the session dedicated to the skills of the future, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, highlighted that the world is experiencing a massive demographic surge that requires the deployment of foresight, modern technologies, and artificial intelligence in educational and scientific fields.

Meanwhile, Dr. Koumbou Boly Barry, Head of the Education Sector at ICESCO, highlighted the Organization’s efforts to contribute to building a better future through advancing education in the Islamic world.

The Conference’s working sessions addressed the results of the 2022 PISA program, discussed the future of the performance and skills of students in the assessments, and examined the development of teacher competence and educational practices.