site.btaSofia Shows Interest in Implementing OECD's PISA for Schools Programme

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Education and Skills Directorate Director Andreas Schleicher discussed the possibility of Sofia schools joining the PISA for Schools programme, Sofia Municipality's press centre said here on Tuesday. The aim is for schools to use the programme to assess their performance and receive individual recommendations for improvement based on the data.

Deputy Education Minister Natalia Miteva noted that the programme is expected to be launched on a national level at the end of this year. The possibility of collaboration for quality early childhood education and development and school-based education was also discussed.

"Investment in education pays back many times over in all sectors. Every dollar invested in education adds tremendous value. That is why education is a top priority for us," the Mayor said.

Schleicher shared OECD's experience in developing the skills of students, for whom it is important to be taught to find solutions in real practical situations, to be adaptable and to think critically rather than reproduce information.

During the talks, the possibility of cooperation in the field of early childhood education and development through one of the tools developed by the OECD - the International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study (IELS) - was also discussed. IELS assesses children at age 5, focusing on their early learning and development, including self-regulation and social-emotional skills.