Parliamentary question

Written question to the European Commission

In July 2020, the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina decided that the country would not take part in the 2021 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) testing round. In 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the PISA study for the first time, mostly thanks to the active engagement of its experts, the EU Delegation in Sarajevo, Parliament and DG NEAR.

The results of the test were devastating: one out of every two 14-year old students in the country was able to read a text, but was not able to explain it. This equates to a literacy rate of 50 %.

Following the 2018 results, a group of experts has developed a set of clear and concrete recommendations for changes within the country’s educational system.

All other Western Balkan countries will be taking part in the 2021 PISA study. If Bosnia and Herzegovina does not take part in the study, it would be more difficult to follow and compare long-term changes in the country’s educational systems.

1. Does the Commission intend to put pressure on institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order not to leave the country out of the PISA study?

2. Does it have information on the progress made by ministries of education in terms of their implementation of expert recommendations?

Answer given by Commissioner Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

The Commission is aware of the results that Bosnia and Herzegovina scored in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and of the related experts’ recommendations. Bosnia and Herzegovina has so far taken limited actions to follow up on those recommendations.

The Commission is closely engaged in supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in accelerating their implementation. A comparative study of the western Balkans’ participation and outcome in the 2018 PISA, published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development with the support of the Commission and Unicef, was published on 2 December 2020. This document is also intended to support the relevant authorities to further develop public policies in this area.

The Commission is aware that Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet approved the conclusion of the 2022 PISA agreement, while discussions are still ongoing amongst relevant stakeholders on the country’s participation.

The need to ensure continuous participation in international assessment studies, in particular 2022 PISA, was also highlighted in the Commission’s 2020 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in the context of the EU‐Bosnia and Herzegovina Association Committee meeting on 26 November 2020.

The Commission will continue to strongly encourage and support the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the next PISA testing round, along with the rest of the western Balkans region.