On the Performance of Greek Students on PISA Fields Using PISA Data: A Comprehensive Analysis

Abstract

The cultivation of 21st-century skills is a key objective of most educational systems around the world today. Based on this widely accepted finding, this paper analyses the performance of Greek students in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the main purpose of which is to test students' acquisition of these skills. The research aims to answer two questions: first, whether the scientific community universally accepts this competition, and second, whether STEM education primarily cultivates 21st-century skills and improves students' performance in the competition. To this end, we conducted a secondary analysis of the competition data and employed the methodology of evidence-based research. In conclusion, PISA does not enjoy universal acceptance within the scientific community and therefore cannot be the sole criterion for reforming an educational system. Nevertheless, the importance of cultivating 21^(st) century skills, which students will require in adult life, cannot be overlooked. Therefore, we propose STEM education as a means of developing the necessary skills, both within the school environment and in the broader context of extracurricular activities.