PISA and National Education Policies: The Case of Kazakhstan

• In Event: Measurement and Evaluation Research From a Global Perspective

Abstract

International large-scale assessments (ILSA) have become important avenues in shaping international and national education policies around the world. Most influential and controversial ILSA with the largest number of participating countries is the OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment. Since its inception in 2000 PISA has reshaped the directions of national education systems. Kazakhstan is not an exception. It joined PISA in 2009 and participated in all rounds. This study investigates how PISA influenced (and continues to do so) the shaping of national education policy in the country and whether the national policies geared towards PISA led to improvement in student scores. I use policy document analysis to analyze key education policies initiated and implemented at the national level since 2009.

Author

• Aliya Bizhanova, Michigan State University