Prishtina, December 23, 2019 – State institutions should refer to PISA results in revising the education system in Kosovo. This was said during a roundtable organized by American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, where the alarming results of the country in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), and their impact in the private sector were discussed.
Besnik Krasniqi, Economic Researcher and University Professor, stated that the results of PISA exam are not surprising at all given that the development of the teaching program and methodology in Kosovo does not prepare students to apply practical knowledge in a specific context. He added that the inadequate development of students’ creative skills has implications for the private sector as well, which in turn cannot impact on improving the quality of education without a proactive role of state institutions for dialogue in this regard.
Gresa Statovci, Education Consultant, stated that from the economic point of view, improving the quality of education is a key parameter for the country’s further development. She added that as part of the efforts to improve the educational system, Kosovo is implementing a new curriculum framework, which with adequate improvements would bring better results in the PISA exam, and therefore a better prepared workforce. Statovci emphasized the need to include the private sector in the drafting of education policies, in order to reduce the gap between demand and supply in the labor market.
On the other hand, Naim Telaku, Psychologist and University Professor, talked from the psychological point of view and elaborated on various factors that may have contributed to poor results in the PISA exam, such as inadequate curriculum, misuse of technology, emotional difficulties and the weak relationships in the parent-child-teacher triangle. Frequently, teachers’ role and their approach as the uncontested authority results in the demotivation of students, who at the same time are under continuous pressure from their parents to achieve better results. Telaku called for the implementation of all necessary PISA guidelines, in order to improve the educational system, including here the assistance of the private sector. Moreover, he talked about the need for an approach which combines emotional intelligence with the development of cognitive abilities.