Will Hong Kong’s educators learn from sliding Pisa results?

The latest Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) results have alarmed Hong Kong's education authorities, showing a decline in core subjects like mathematics, reading, and science. While digital learning has shown improvements, scores in these core subjects have fallen to the lowest levels ever measured, indicating a negative trend that began after 2012.

Hong Kong's performance in science has slipped from 7th place in 2019 to 17th place in 2022, a drop of three years. Professor Nancy Law Wai-ying, a member of the Hong Kong Pisa study team, suggests that the decline is due to a shift in the assessment framework, which now requires students to research, evaluate, and use scientific information to make decisions in uncertain contexts.

However, the report warns that Hong Kong's educators are still clinging to rote learning methods, focusing more on memorizing "right" answers rather than fostering deep conceptual understanding and creative problem-solving skills. The pandemic has only exacerbated this issue. Experts argue that Hong Kong's educators need to shift their focus from rote teaching to developing students' ability to think critically and apply knowledge in different contexts.

The fear of being wrong may be preventing educators from fostering a culture of learning from mistakes, which is crucial for preparing students for the future. The report also highlights concerns over Hong Kong's reading scores, with global scores declining significantly. While Hong Kong students are not struggling with basic reading skills, they are challenged by reading for enjoyment and understanding complex information.

The 2025 Pisa study will further examine future-readiness, focusing on skills such as evaluating information, making connections across sources, and critical thinking. Despite Hong Kong's relatively strong performance in digital learning, educators must acknowledge the need for change and take action to address the declining scores in core subjects and reading.