MPs call for education changes after Pisa results reveal learning gaps
Cyprus MPs urged immediate changes after Pisa findings showed 53 per cent of students lacked basic mathematics skills and 62 per cent fell below the basic reading comprehension level.
Nicosia, Cyprus. The House education committee reviewed the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) findings on Wednesday, focusing on policies to strengthen learning outcomes. MPs voiced serious concern, saying the scores exposed shortcomings in the education system and required immediate changes.
Mathematics and reading difficulties
The findings, released in early September, showed that 53 per cent of students lacked basic mathematics skills, while 62 per cent performed below the basic reading comprehension level.
Committee chairman and Diko MP Chrysanthos Savvides said: “Six out of ten students do not understand what they read and this is frightening.”
On mathematics, Savvides said 11 out of 20 students faced difficulties, compared with seven out of 20 in Europe. He stressed that the concerning results should guide future decisions.
Ministry response and curriculum developments
Giorgos Koutsidis, deputy director of secondary general education, said Pisa did not provide a complete picture. Nevertheless, he said the findings raised concerns about whether children had opportunities to develop the skills they needed.
Although other countries had experienced a similar decline, Koutsidis said this did not lessen the responsibilities of schools or the education ministry.
He added that robotics, new technologies and artificial intelligence were being introduced into the education system. International best practices were also under review, and plans were being made to exchange educational materials with Greece.
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