Minister Bošnjak and APOSO Director Stojkić on Bosnia and Herzegovina's Participation in the PISA Study

The Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, held a working meeting with the Director of the Agency for Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education (APOSO), Maja Stojkić. The main topic of the meeting was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s participation in the upcoming cycle of the international PISA study in 2029.

As emphasized during the meeting, Bosnia and Herzegovina last participated in this study in 2018, among a total of 79 countries worldwide. Unfortunately, continuity in participation has not been established to date, which represents a significant shortcoming, as it prevents timely monitoring of educational trends.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is expecting to sign a formal agreement with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to participate in the next PISA cycle, which would allow for the continued monitoring of students’ knowledge and skills in our country.

Minister Bošnjak emphasized that without the continuous implementation of international assessments, it is not possible to speak of visible progress in education. Studies such as PISA provide invaluable data that enable a better understanding of the current state of the education system.

PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) is an international assessment organized by the OECD that measures the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students, with a special focus on applying what they have learned to real-life situations.

This study allows countries to objectively assess the quality of education, compare themselves with other countries, and plan necessary reforms.

Participation in the PISA assessment contributes to improving education, monitoring progress, and aligning with European and global standards. The importance of participating in such assessments is also confirmed by the recommendations of the European Commission, which clearly highlight the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to use the results to improve its education system. At the end of the meeting, Minister Bošnjak and Director Stojkić reaffirmed the strong partnership between the Ministry and the Agency and emphasized the importance of joint efforts in ensuring Bosnia and Herzegovina’s continued participation in international educational assessments.