Aufrecht durch Pisa” Dempeus amb PISA

Indeed, for a long time from this bulletin and in conferences and articles, we have been saying that we are not moving in the right direction. Before insisting yet again, we wish to say that at any rate we must conduct the debate in a serene manner. And avoid critical and pessimistic hyperbole. It is true that the system of education in Catalonia has really made significant leaps forward in many respects. However, it is also true that schooling in Catalonia is facing a number of additional difficulties, such as a huge influx of immigration from many different countries and overstretched urban and social structures. Furthermore, it must also be remembered that Catalonia has opted for an all-inclusive education in which we have not sought to sacrifice fairness for excellence. Socially the results have proved highly positive. But a lot of strain has been placed on schools. These are the positive aspects to bear in mind regarding Catalan schools.

But having said this, it is also evident – and the PISA report corroborates it, but those who wanted to already knew it – that our system of education is not up to standard. And that this seriously harms us as a country and as a society. And this shortcoming concerns not only knowledge, but also the values conveyed and the attitudes fostered.

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This is a decisive moment to change course. And there are more possibilities of doing so now than there have been for years. Why?

First because public opinion and the mass media are far more aware of the situation. The failures in the system are now plainly evident. And their consequences too.

Second, because there are political and professional sectors that can no longer continue to say what they said. In part due to the aforementioned current swing in public opinion, but also because they have more responsibility now.

And they can no longer continue to deny the facts. From their current responsibility, they cannot continue propounding a little exigent pedagogical ideology; they cannot continue to ignore the importance of endeavour and of respect, the need for a direction for schools and for an assessment of results, etc. Nor can they use education as a weapon of political attrition.

In third place, because given recent developments in the way politicians from all sides of the spectrum are debating this issue it should be possible to reach an agreement between the main Catalan parties. Let us hope so.

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Notwithstanding, we must also still expect significant resistance from certain sectors of the parties, from some unions and from some sectors of experts in psycho-pedagogy who for some time have imposed their pseudo-progressive pedagogical ideology. We have often said that these criteria are already in retreat in many European countries, and specifically in the most advanced and forward-looking ones. This is happening in Germany at present. Take, for instance, an article recently published in this country’s most prestigious sociodemocrat-oriented current affairs magazine, “Die Zeit”, which draws much inspiration from former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

I have transcribed some fragments from this article entitled “Aufrecht durch Pisa”, [Standing up with PISA]:

In Germany the “Pisa-Schock” has alarmed society and sparked a profound change of mood with respect to schooling. This has no precedent, not only in the area of education, but also in pedagogical science, as many teachers used to overly fantasise with peace and environmental pedagogy and paid little heed to their students’ results.”

“Since the first PISA survey that was conducted on schools three years back, we are once again speaking openly of results... Many educators believe their priority is to ensure that every student is really able to read”.

“The PISA survey does not consider childhood reading or mathematical abilities, but checks the extent to which, at the end of the period of compulsory education, the young are able to read and grasp what they read and what basic notions of mathematics and natural sciences they have. That is, how they can use this information in real life”.

According to “Die Zeit” the PISA report has had another positive impact. “The ideological trench warfare on education that for decades has been fought out between the social democrat SPD and the Christian democrat CDU has developed into a pragmatic collaboration”.

One other remark that deserves mention: “schools will have more freedom”.

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It is time to act. Without complexes. It is urgent. And it can be done.