Migrant background students outperform Cypriot peers in PISA survey
The latest PISA results show first generation migrant students scoring higher than Cypriot students in reading, maths and science, while Cyprus lags behind EU and OECD averages.
Students with a migrant background scored higher than their Cypriot peers across reading, mathematics and science in the latest PISA survey, according to results presented by the education ministry on Friday, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
In reading comprehension, first generation migrant students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds scored 486 points, against 424 for second generation students and 415 for Cypriot students. Among students from poorer backgrounds, first generation migrant students scored 369 points, ahead of Cypriot students and second-generation migrant students, who scored 367 points each. A similar pattern held in mathematics and science at every socioeconomic level.
Yiasemina Karagiorgi, head of the educational research centre, said the findings challenged a common assumption in public debate. "Over time this impression prevails that our results are excellent and that immigrants are spoiling them when in fact it is quite the opposite," she said.
The survey also found that 24.9 per cent of Cyprus' students answered exercises in under ten seconds, the highest proportion among participating countries. Research centre officer Modestina Modestou said this suggested many students had not engaged seriously with the assessment, noting that a high proportion also left questions unanswered.
Cyprus' overall averages stood at 411 in science, 412 in mathematics and 379 in reading, below both EU averages of 481, 463 and 459 and OECD averages of 482, 463 and 461. Compared with 2022, science and reading scores remained stable while mathematics fell by six points. Some 43.5 per cent of students scored below level two in all three subjects, far from the European Commission's 2030 target of 15 per cent and above the EU average of 21.3 per cent, while just 0.7 per cent reached the highest proficiency level.
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou pointed out that the gap in performance linked to socioeconomic background was narrower in Cyprus than in the EU as a whole. She said reforms under way aimed to reduce reliance on memorisation and strengthen critical thinking, adding that Cypriot students had less experience with electronic assessments and that the ministry was preparing them for the next PISA cycle in 2028.
What it means for residents
The results point to a school system that struggles to lift overall performance, even as migrant-background students often do better than their local peers. For families on the island, this raises questions about how schools teach and assess children, and what support may be needed at home.
- For parents: Ask schools how they prepare students for digital assessments, since rushed answers were a major issue in this cycle.
- For students: The next PISA in 2028 will likely include more electronic testing, so familiarity with digital formats may matter more in coming years.
- For the wider system: With maths scores slipping and most students below basic proficiency, expect continued debate and possible curriculum changes in public education.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
