Pisa test cannot assess every skill students need

The Programme for International Student Assessment should not be an all-encompassing assessment nor be viewed as one (“Pisa test does not measure skills needed in 21st century”; Dec 12).

It has succeeded so far in helping educational systems around the world improve themselves in the subjects assessed: Science, mathematics, reading, collaborative problem solving and financial literacy.

I agree that it is important to assess competency in 21st-century skills, but it would be hard to do so.

Take, for example, leadership. One pupil may choose to coerce and threaten his team members, while another may empathise and build bonds with his. The former completes the task efficiently, while the latter requires more time to do so but would gain loyalty and support.

Whichever way Pisa decides to assess this can be refuted by any party. Furthermore, it may force certain countries to adopt a rigid structure of scoring on these ambiguous assessments, which would lower the pupils’ malleability.

It is not only the responsibility of educational systems to impart 21st-century skills to students. It requires cooperation between youths, educators, families and organisations.

Youths must be exposed to a variety of situations through interaction with their families, peers and seniors, participate in various activities outside of school and pursue their passions deeply. Learning is not confined to the classroom.