Dubai-based GEMS Education is partnering with France’s Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to support the launch of a new approach to improving education assessment and strategies in low- and middle-income countries.

The new assessment tool, Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) for Development, or Pisa-D, was developed by the OECD and its partners to enable greater participation by low-income and middle-income countries in support of the United Nation’s Education 2030 Project, said a statement from GEMS Education.  

Pisa is an international survey occurring every three years, which evaluates education systems worldwide by testing 15-year-old students in science, reading and mathematics, it said.

The project is currently being piloted in eight countries, including Cambodia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Senegal and Zambia, it added.

GEMS Education will serve as an expert advisor to OECD as part of The Education 2030 Project, which is a multi-year collaboration of the world's leading countries to advance the development of modern education systems, said a statement.

Pisa-D plays a key role in achieving the project’s education goals to instil in students the values and skills necessary to be successful in the world by 2030, it said.

The educational institution will also donate Windows 1:1 devices to six of the pilot countries to enable researchers to test students’ skills at home using a Windows-based application, it stated.

Sunny Varkey, founder and group chairman, GEMS Education, said: “At our institution, global citizenship is an integral component of our educational programme and a necessary first step toward preparing students to transform our world.”

“We’re proud to partner with the OECD in their mission to improve education system performance and establish better education policies, as it furthers our goal to enhance learning outcomes for children worldwide,” he added.

Denise Gallucci, chief executive officer, GEMS Education – Americas, said: “We are facing a global challenge to define education indicators for all school levels, and with the Pisa-D project, our learning communities will experience improved access, equity and quality of education for all eligible students.”

“We are thrilled to be a part of the OECD’s mission to raise education standards and enhance the overall learning experience across the globe, and we look forward to sharing results of the assessment,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service