Hafnarfjörður students rise while Iceland falls

Hafnarfjörður students achieve better results in PISA 2015 compared to
PISA 2012 (reading 477>489, mathematics 485>493, science
468>472) while Iceland's overall performance is declining, which is a cause for concern.
Hafnarfjörður is among the few municipalities where this is happening, although it is still
performance below the PISA average (the PISA baseline is an average of 500 and the OECD
of the states now 490) but it has achieved the national average for Iceland in all categories. That
It is also unusual now that the change in Hafnarfjörður does not coincide with
a change in the country as a whole. In previous surveys, Hafnarfjörður has followed
changes in the overall performance of Icelandic students, i.e. a decrease (2003, 2006, 2012)
and increased (2009).

The PISA debate is multifaceted in Iceland, and opinions are divided.
The importance of PISA. People wonder whether Iceland's deteriorating performance
not necessarily reflect a declining ability or achievement of Icelandic students as a whole
of the Icelandic school system, where PISA measures very limited aspects of school activity.
More factors need to be considered that could explain the results, rather than necessarily...
that the performance of the Icelandic school system is worsening. Factors have been cited such as
and the social circumstances of students (are they getting worse in Iceland?), dropout
in the PISA survey (different for local authorities or countries?), Icelandic
a school policy of „inclusive education“ (the mediocrity of the Icelandic school system which
hamper the good performance of the most diligent students?!), students' interest in the test itself
(different by country?), the amount of time spent teaching the PISA subjects (different according to
countries?) or simply different focuses in students' studies depending on
municipalities and countries that meet the „PISA curriculum“ to varying degrees. All viewpoints that
Needs to be discussed.

In Hafnarfjörður, greater emphasis has been placed on the importance of
reading in recent years, not particularly because of PISA, but because various
Indicators suggested that the achievement of children from Hafnarfjörður could be better and
There would be reason to place special emphasis on reading in general in Hafnarfjörður.
kindergartens and primary schools. Thus, a special system has been introduced in Hafnarfjörður
a literacy initiative called READING IS LIFE'S GAME which aims to
support the school's work. This includes, among other things, giving the school environment a clear
Benchmarks for students' reading proficiency by age, provide students with regular
information about their reading ability and encourage them to achieve greater success, support
to support teachers in reading instruction with diverse training and advice, and to encourage
parents to increased participation in their children's reading at home.

We expect increased discussion about literacy in Icelandic.
school community and the implementation of the reading emphasis READING IS LIFE'S GAME are
to provide students in Hafnarfjörður with an enhanced quality of school life that will become even more apparent
rather in the coming years. The PISA results are positive news for the work that is
is taking place in Hafnarfjörður this term and gives cause to continue to
Working towards improved student achievement in literacy in Hafnarfjörður.