Daybreak India wants the spotlight at the world’s top school exam. It just won’t step on stage
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May 4, 2025 India has opted out of the PISA test for 16 years, after a dismal 2009 ranking that placed it near the bottom. The government is now pursuing a reform initiative called Parakh to modernize education and bring it in line with global standards. However, the move from rote learning to a system that emphasizes problem-solving and critical thinking faces significant hurdles, including diverse state policies and resistance from educators. Will India finally step onto the world stage, or will it remain in the background?
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PISA's Global Importance
- The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is the world's most respected school exam, testing real-life knowledge application rather than rote memorization.
- India has not participated since 2009 after a poor ranking, reflecting challenges in its education assessment system.
India's 2009 PISA Struggle
- India handpicked 16,000 students in 2009 for PISA, aiming to represent the country well, but still performed near the bottom.
- Officials blamed a "cultural disconnect," but India could have adapted the test to its context if it had stayed.
PARAK's Reform Ambition
- Post-2009, India has been quietly working to modernize assessments through PARAK, which aims to benchmark all 69 school boards.
- The focus is moving away from rote learning towards applied learning and real-world skills.