LookAtVietnam – An international testing programme is set to “wake up” the country’s education system by 2012, according to an official from the Ministry of Education and Training.

An international testing programme is set to “wake up” the country’s education system by 2012. (Photo: VNN)

Germany, which had a good reputation for education in Europe, took the tests in 2006 and did not have the top results, Hung said.

The system has been administered in different countries every three years since 2000. Each administration includes assessments on reading, mathematics and science, but assesses only one subject in depth. The most recent administration was in 2006 and focused on science literacy.

The programme includes a system of international standard assessments that test 15-year-olds on reading, mathematics and science. It will cost the ministry VND10 billion (US$560,000).

PISA is run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and is aimed to emphasise functional skills that students have acquired as they near the end of mandatory schooling.

It also includes measures of general or cross-curricular knowledge and skills such as learning strategies.

Deputy minister of Education and Training Banh Tien Long said the programme would be a good chance for the country’s education sector to recognise its weakness and strengths, from which necessary adjustments could be made.

“PISA is not an examination on students’ knowledge, so students shouldn’t do any revision for it,” Hung said.

Vice director of the Department of Secondary Education under the MOET Nguyen Hai Chau said the country might face a few challenges when carrying out the programme.

A pilot programme will be carried out in one or two major cities in early 2010, and in 10 provinces and cities by the end of the year.

Students of 15 years old will be chosen randomly from across the country to take part in the programme.

The test will last seven hours, and has two parts. Sixty per cent of the test is multiple-choice while the rest are open questions.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News