reprint
Poles cannot read with understanding. Competences of adult Poles at dramatically low level
Magdalena Ignaciuk
Contribution: 10 December 2024, 14:41
Poland at the grey end. Adult competence has fallen dramatically.
Polish adults fell well below the OECD average in key competences specified as text understanding, mathematics and problem solving.
Worse still, we have noted 1 of the largest decreases in the results since the erstwhile edition of the study. Is this a pandemic effect, educational reforms, or deficiency of support for adult education?
Analysis of experts leaves no illusions – if we do not rebuild basic skills, the future of the Polish economy and the labour marketplace may be threatened.
The results of the global PIAAC Adult Skills survey were published on Tuesday 10 December. The survey active 31 OECD countries
The Programme for global Assessment of Adult Competitions is 1 of the largest social investigation in the planet and the only survey comparing the skills of adults from different countries. It measures the skills of knowing text, mathematical reasoning and solving problems. It is coordinated by the Organisation for economical Cooperation and improvement (OECD). The erstwhile edition was carried out in 2011-2012.
31 OECD countries participated in the current edition of the survey, conducted between 2022 and 2023.
The results of the global PIAAC Adult Skills survey were published on Tuesday 10 December. The survey active 31 OECD countries
The Programme for global Assessment of Adult Competitions is 1 of the largest social investigation in the planet and the only survey comparing the skills of adults from different countries. It measures the skills of knowing text, mathematical reasoning and solving problems. It is coordinated by the Organisation for economical Cooperation and improvement (OECD). The erstwhile edition was carried out in 2011-2012.
31 OECD countries participated in the current edition of the survey, conducted between 2022 and 2023.
It was attended by people aged 16–65.
Poles well below average
Average score of Polish subjects
High declines have besides been recorded in Korea, Lithuania and fresh Zealand.
According to researchers from the Educational investigation Institute, the PIAAC 2023 survey reported an alarmingly advanced proportion of people with low skills:
The manager of IBE Maciej Jakubowski, asked to interpret the results of Polish participants of the PIAAC study, pointed out that this should be done carefully.
– You can see that Polish adults are reluctant to spend so much time on research," he said.
He pointed out that this is simply a hard study, due to the fact that skills are measured, it is done at home, you gotta spend quite a few time on it.
– quite a few respondents just didn't want to do it," he said.
He besides noted that the Nordic countries, Finland, Sweden, Norway, where adults participate on an ongoing basis in improving their skills, are at the forefront of research. Meanwhile, as he pointed out, there is inactive a very large group of adults in Poland, who do not participate in any education, and frequently in their work they do not usage the skills that they have learned from school.
What should MEN change to make the results of Poles better?
When asked for recommendations for the Ministry of National Education and mostly for the education system, he pointed out that adult education is the work of many ministries, many institutions.
– There are many trainings, but these trainings are mainly utilized by educated people. We can see that these educated people truly inactive have advanced competences. In this group, skills don't fall as much with age as in another groups. As for the little educated, there is simply a lot to do here," he said.
– Everyone understands that the future belongs to those countries and those who have basic competences and who can transform very quickly, gain fresh professions, fresh skills," he said.
He pointed out that a individual who has the ability to realize the text read, the mathematical skills and the ability to solve problems will rapidly learn something new, find himself a fresh profession, find himself in a changing labour market.
– However, those who do not have these competences will have major problems in the future. Here is the function of the state to support it, to return to the basics, to rebuild these foundations, to intensify education and to give people a real choice alternatively than a negative choice," he added.
Jakubowski estimated that at the educational level this lesson was done – the level of competence which young Poles are taking out of school is simply a good foundation for the majority.
– Of course, here you can improve, reduce inequality, but there is simply a good foundation," he said.
He pointed out that in Poland after graduating from school or studying, fewer people participate in further education. He pointed to the function of employers to change that.
– Employers request to realise that their future should besides depend on their skills," he said. “We see that employers are looking for people with circumstantial competences. They are looking for people who are flexible and want to be educated, but they besides gotta make certain that workers have the chance to keep learning," said Jakubowski.
Zoneeducation.pl/polacy-not-can-read-with-understanding-competence-adult-polakow-on-dramatic-low-level/ar/c5-18988610
Poles well below average
Average score of Polish subjects
within the meaning of the text read, is 236 points (with an average score for OECD countries of 260 points),
in mathematical reasoning - 239 points (OECD average - 263 points),
in problem solving - 226 (OECD average - 251 points).
Compared to the erstwhile edition of the study, Poland recorded 1 of the largest decreases in the results:
Compared to the erstwhile edition of the study, Poland recorded 1 of the largest decreases in the results:
within the meaning of the text by 31 points,
in mathematical reasoning by 21 points
in mathematical reasoning by 21 points
High declines have besides been recorded in Korea, Lithuania and fresh Zealand.
According to researchers from the Educational investigation Institute, the PIAAC 2023 survey reported an alarmingly advanced proportion of people with low skills:
39 percent of the survey participants from Poland did not solve simple tasks measuring the knowing of the text,
38% failed to do math skills tasks,
48% failed to carry out problem solving tasks.
Researchers point out that even given the likely underestimation of results, it is clear that a large number of adults in Poland are incapable to cope with tasks measuring basic skills.
Women read better in the planet and men number better. In Poland the results are akin and likewise poor
In most European countries, women have achieved better results in terms of text and men in mathematics. In Poland, the average level of skills of women and men is akin in all 3 fields examined.
In Poland, as in many another countries, there has been a systematic decline in skills with age, especially in the 55-65 age group. The youngest people were the best in the study.
In all countries, people with higher education performed much better – in Poland their advantage towards another categories of education was the largest in mathematics.
Poles not active in solving tasks
Analysis of OECD experts and the Institute for Educational investigation shows that Polish investigation results may be importantly underestimated, despite Poland's compliance with methodological standards for the implementation of the survey.
– The problem was the low level of engagement of respondents in solving tasks, as demonstrated by fast consequence and frequent omission of questions in the skill study. This could besides affect the results of another countries, but in Poland their impact was most likely greater – IBE points out.
In Poland, the survey was conducted on a example of about 5,000 people drawn from the PESEL register. Surveyors visited the respondents in their homes. The survey lasted 2 hours. The first part of the survey consisted of answers to survey questions, and the next part – the independent solving of tasks on the tablet.
– This was an interactive test, which measured the ability to realize the text, i.e. uncovering a fragment, answering short questions, which can be inferred from a given text," said Michał Sitek from the IBE investigation and Skills Team. He added that these texts were akin to those with which we meet in everyday life.
38% failed to do math skills tasks,
48% failed to carry out problem solving tasks.
Researchers point out that even given the likely underestimation of results, it is clear that a large number of adults in Poland are incapable to cope with tasks measuring basic skills.
Women read better in the planet and men number better. In Poland the results are akin and likewise poor
In most European countries, women have achieved better results in terms of text and men in mathematics. In Poland, the average level of skills of women and men is akin in all 3 fields examined.
In Poland, as in many another countries, there has been a systematic decline in skills with age, especially in the 55-65 age group. The youngest people were the best in the study.
In all countries, people with higher education performed much better – in Poland their advantage towards another categories of education was the largest in mathematics.
Poles not active in solving tasks
Analysis of OECD experts and the Institute for Educational investigation shows that Polish investigation results may be importantly underestimated, despite Poland's compliance with methodological standards for the implementation of the survey.
– The problem was the low level of engagement of respondents in solving tasks, as demonstrated by fast consequence and frequent omission of questions in the skill study. This could besides affect the results of another countries, but in Poland their impact was most likely greater – IBE points out.
In Poland, the survey was conducted on a example of about 5,000 people drawn from the PESEL register. Surveyors visited the respondents in their homes. The survey lasted 2 hours. The first part of the survey consisted of answers to survey questions, and the next part – the independent solving of tasks on the tablet.
– This was an interactive test, which measured the ability to realize the text, i.e. uncovering a fragment, answering short questions, which can be inferred from a given text," said Michał Sitek from the IBE investigation and Skills Team. He added that these texts were akin to those with which we meet in everyday life.
The manager of IBE Maciej Jakubowski, asked to interpret the results of Polish participants of the PIAAC study, pointed out that this should be done carefully.
– You can see that Polish adults are reluctant to spend so much time on research," he said.
He pointed out that this is simply a hard study, due to the fact that skills are measured, it is done at home, you gotta spend quite a few time on it.
– quite a few respondents just didn't want to do it," he said.
He besides noted that the Nordic countries, Finland, Sweden, Norway, where adults participate on an ongoing basis in improving their skills, are at the forefront of research. Meanwhile, as he pointed out, there is inactive a very large group of adults in Poland, who do not participate in any education, and frequently in their work they do not usage the skills that they have learned from school.
What should MEN change to make the results of Poles better?
When asked for recommendations for the Ministry of National Education and mostly for the education system, he pointed out that adult education is the work of many ministries, many institutions.
– There are many trainings, but these trainings are mainly utilized by educated people. We can see that these educated people truly inactive have advanced competences. In this group, skills don't fall as much with age as in another groups. As for the little educated, there is simply a lot to do here," he said.
– Everyone understands that the future belongs to those countries and those who have basic competences and who can transform very quickly, gain fresh professions, fresh skills," he said.
He pointed out that a individual who has the ability to realize the text read, the mathematical skills and the ability to solve problems will rapidly learn something new, find himself a fresh profession, find himself in a changing labour market.
– However, those who do not have these competences will have major problems in the future. Here is the function of the state to support it, to return to the basics, to rebuild these foundations, to intensify education and to give people a real choice alternatively than a negative choice," he added.
Jakubowski estimated that at the educational level this lesson was done – the level of competence which young Poles are taking out of school is simply a good foundation for the majority.
– Of course, here you can improve, reduce inequality, but there is simply a good foundation," he said.
He pointed out that in Poland after graduating from school or studying, fewer people participate in further education. He pointed to the function of employers to change that.
– Employers request to realise that their future should besides depend on their skills," he said. “We see that employers are looking for people with circumstantial competences. They are looking for people who are flexible and want to be educated, but they besides gotta make certain that workers have the chance to keep learning," said Jakubowski.
Zoneeducation.pl/polacy-not-can-read-with-understanding-competence-adult-polakow-on-dramatic-low-level/ar/c5-18988610
