The PISA results have once again placed Portuguese public schools under pressure. Carlos Ceia, a full professor and head of teacher training, argues that the problem is not only in the results of this international assessment, but also in the way teaching, assessment and school organisation are carried out in Portugal.
Ceia believes that greater demands are needed in reading and writing, genuine school autonomy and a serious investment in teacher training. For him, these are the areas that need profound changes to improve the quality of education.
The professor also warned that banning mobile phones in schools or blaming Artificial Intelligence will not solve the problems identified by PISA. This position comes in the context of the debate about the causes of the poor performance of Portuguese students in international assessments.
The article comes at a time when the PISA results have once again generated discussion about the state of education in Portugal, with Ceia highlighting that, despite the good results achieved in 2015, much still needs to be done to ensure quality education in Portuguese public schools.
