Socioeconomic Gradients Across East Europe: Data From Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006

• In Event: Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Immigrant and Indigenous Students in European Contexts

Abstract

This paper examines student differences in reading achievement and their association with socioeconomic status (SES) in 12 Eastern European countries that participated in the International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006. The size of SES gaps within and between schools is compared in relation to the country’s overall performance. A possible trade-off between equity and quality of outcomes is explored, identifying relatively successful countries at attaining both educational goals. The extent to which the school SES explains performance gaps between rural and urban schools is analyzed. The results elicit how economic and educational reforms undertaken after the collapse of communism have shaped differently equity of educational outcomes in Eastern European countries and provide international benchmarks for educational improvement.

Authors

• Plamen Vladkov Mirazchiyski, IEA Data Processing and Research Center

• Daniel H. Caro, IEA Data Processing and Research Center