UdS on the PISA tests: “Evaluated not rated!”
Today, all Italian high schools will be submitted to the PISA evaluation tests provided by INVALSI, the National Institute for the Evaluation of Education. For the second year, a set of multiple choice tests is imposed on all sophomore pupils, who have already been confused by the sudden changes approved by the last government. Unione degli Studenti of Italy (UdS) believes that evaluation is a such a difficult process that it can not be replaced by a quiz which puts apart the role of the teacher as educator and promotes only competitiveness instead of student cooperation.
The tests, based on PISA surveys which since long time have been strongly criticized by OBESSU, seem to be harmless but they suggest an idea of evaluation which is not only uncomplete and partial but even dangerous. This method aims to rate instead of evaluating. It checks the performances in terms of quantity to determine student efficiency and assess its capacities without caring about individual growth and developement.
What’s more, PISA tests stress the differences between schools, whitout aiming to solve them but instead reinforcing negatively the classist hierarchy between schools, students and teachers.
Furthermore, following math and Italian tests, a “Student survey” is conducted that without any statistic purpose, will make the tests trackable aiming to create a sort of student competences portfolio.
We, as Unione degli Studenti of Italy, believe that evaluation is a such a difficult process that it can not be replaced by a quiz which puts apart the role of the teacher as educator and promotes only competitiveness instead of student cooperation. We strongly think the Evaluation should be horizontal and not vertical, should include the students themselves, and should encourage them to study. Meanwhile we don’t see any educative purpose in PISA tests which seem only to flat the educational system toward labour market requests.
For these reasons, UdS rejects firmly the tests and will hold a national demonstration on May 16th. They ask all Italian students and teachers to boycott the PISA tests and we promote demonstrations and initiatives in all schools to explain our reasons, and the possible alternatives of evaluation.
We are students not numbers!
Written by UdS representatives
