Madam, – Unlike economic performance national educational achievement is a matter entirely in our own hands. That achievement in the OECD/Pisa 2009 comparison with 63 other countries is dismal and getting worse.
International literature tells us that comparative cognitive skills at 15/16 accurately predict later comparative national economic progress. By this measure Ireland’s longer-term economic prospects look bleak. Comparative reading skills have declined. What is most serious for Ireland’s future ambitions to be a knowledge economy is the decline of mathematical skills where we now are below average internationally in the PISA tests and have few high- achieving pupils.
It is arguable that the PISA 2009 results last week are more serious for our future than the current economic debate. In banking it was recognised that major reform and new directions were urgently required. In education there is urgent need for reform including reform in teacher education, qualifications and professional development and in school organisation and curriculum.