Catalan president to convene parties to address 'poor results' in PISA international tests 

President Pere Aragonès is to convene the various parties in Parliament to address the "poor results" achieved by Catalan students in the international PISA assessments.  

Aragonès has urged parties to seek "consensus and stability" to promote "courageous changes" in education. 

The president made the announcement on Wednesday in Parliament after requesting to speak.  

Aragonès said that parties must be "demanding" with his government, and stated that he assumes "full responsibility" for the PISA report. 

"But we want to do it together," he said, "not to dilute political responsibility, but because the results will be better, more stable and consolidated over time." 

The president explained he was asking parties to make "educational policy" instead of engaging in "partisanship." 

Education a priority 

Aragonès reiterated that education is not just a priority for the Department of Education or the minister, Anna Simó, but for the entire government, and for him as president. 

He was "convinced" that it is also a priority for Parliament as a whole. 

Poor results 

Catalonia's results in the 2022 PISA tests fell in all three areas of assessment, placing Catalan students below the average for Spain and other countries that form part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 tests assessed the mathematics, science and reading comprehension skills of more than 700,000 15-year-old students in 81 countries around the world. In Catalonia, they took place during the spring of 2022. 

In the report published on December 5, Catalonia obtained 469 points in mathematics, 21 less compared to the last tests carried out in 2018, the lowest score since 2006. 

In science, Catalan students scored their worst results since 2003 with 477 points, 12 less than in 2018. 

In reading, pupils scored their worst results since 2006 with 462 points, 22 less than in 2018, and only ahead of Andalusia (461), Melilla (405) and Ceuta (404) within Spain. 

The following day, Catalonia's education department backtracked after originally blaming the poor results on an "overrepresentation" of immigrant students. 

The education department has urged confidence in Catalan schools. The education minister admitted the system 'needs reform' after the poor PISA results but ruled out any immediate major changes. 

Opposition say response comes "late"

All opposition parties except for far-right Vox confirmed their attendance at the meeting called by Pere Aragonès, but most agreed that the government's response has come "late" and are skeptical about what this summit can produce.

The leader of the opposition, Socialist Salvador Illa, warned that "there can be no complacency, no excuses, nor can you hide your head," but also said that his party was ready to "help."

He guaranteed his party would go into the summit "with a constructive and respectful attitude." Illa asked Aragonès to put the measures education minister Anna Simó announced on Monday on hold until the meeting is held.

Albert Batet of Junts per Catalunya called for "a serious country agreement" with "continued" structural measures.

Batet also criticized the delayed response of Aragonès and reproached him for the explanations arriving just before the government control session, which he believes "shows the respect [Aragonès] has for the parliament and the parliamentary groups".

CUP MP Carles Riera asked the government to reverse budget cuts, lower the ratios between teachers and students, and invest in schools.

Jéssica Albiach of En Comú Podem criticized the "eight days of silence," drawing comparisons with late action on the drought, in healthcare, and in renewable energies.

Vox leader in Catalonia Ignacio Garriga said that "expelling" Spanish from schools has such consequences as the PISA results and charged against the educational policies in recent decades.

Ciudadanos MP Carlos Carrizosa predicted that "absolutely nothing will change" but confirmed they will partake in the summit regardless. The Cs leader also criticized the language immersion system as "outdated."

Alejandro Fernández of the People's Party also said he was "skeptical" about the results that could come out of the meeting, and asked the president to "listen to the proposals" made by the other political groups and "not discard them for ideological reasons."