Page 7 - ELG2301 Jan Issue 483

NEWS
PISA pilots foreign

language element in test

By Melanie Butler
When it comes to mainstream
In mid-pandemic, in 2021, a education, PISA has become the
sample of 15-year-olds from five benchmark. Every three years the
countries took a test – in Covid-safe world’s press seizes on the current
conditions – of their listening and test results for maths, science and
speaking skills in English. They reading to see how their country’s
were part of the very first pilot of the education system is faring against
new foreign language element of others. The addition of an Dr Hanan Khalifa
the OECD’s famous Programme for English language test, which was will reveal both the societal had to opt into the foreign
International Student Assessment designed with OECD partners context of language learning language element, currently only
(PISA) test, which is administered Cambridge University Press & and to pinpoint the policies, available for English, by the end
every three years to a large Assessment, will add further fuel approaches and methods which of 2022. The first results will be
representative sample of 15-year- to the fire by producing data on are most effective. announced in 2026. And it won’t
olds in over 80 countries. the English proficiency of a large “Surveys of this kind are stop there – the aim is to produce
The pilot aimed to check how representative sample. ground-breaking,” writes Dr tests in other languages too.
well the listening and speaking The main aim of the PISA Hanan Khalifa, of Cambridge, As PISA supremo Dr Andreas
elements – skills never before foreign language assessment, in a recent paper, “because they Schleicher explained to Dr
used in a PISA – would function. however, is not just to provide allow us to look at impact on an Khalifa in a recent interview:
In a quote which has gone comparative scores, but to produce incredibly large scale. It will... “English was a natural starting
viral, OECD’s analyst, Catalina large-scale comparative data on help to close skills gaps and shape point. That’s the foreign language
Covacevich, noted, “We were how English is taught and learned English language teaching for most commonly taught, but…
concerned that students with in schools around the world. future generations.” we would be open to adding
low levels of speaking skills may Just as important as the Meanwhile, the work goes on. languages. And I do believe it’s
have found the pilot stressful, but test, therefore, is the array of When the Foreign Language important that this becomes not
one school enjoyed it so much, accompanying questionnaires Assessment test undergoes a field about English, but about can you
they clapped after the speaking for teachers, students, schools, trial in 2024, a third language skill, speak another language that is not
assessment.” parents and policymakers which reading, will be added. Countries your own?”
Italy’s foreign language lecturers are on the march again

By Melanie Butler
lettori at La Sapienza University of
In December 2022, a group Rome organised a national census
of lettori, as foreign language of lettori – both those presently
lecturers are known in Italy, working at Italian universities and
demonstrated outside the offices those who have retired.
of the Minister for Higher In a recent article in The European
Education and Research, Anna Times, Henry Rodgers, himself a
Maria Bernini. The protesters lecturer at La Sapienza, explained,
demanded equal terms and “The census documented to the
conditions with their Italian Commission’s satisfaction the non-
counterparts, a demand which, payment of the settlements due
despite four rulings in favour of under the 2006 ruling”.
lettori by the Court of Justice of Retired lettori have been
the European Union (CJEU), particularly affected, Rodgers
successive Italian governments reports, because “the pensions
have failed to meet. they receive based on the paltry PHOTOGRAPH SHUTTERSTOCK
In September 2021, the and discriminatory salaries earned
European Commission opened over their careers place them
infringement proceedings against below the poverty line in their
Italy for its failure to implement home countries“.
the 2006 CJEU judgement in Kurt Rollin, representative for
case C119/04, the last of four the retired lettori, taught at La receiving EU funding. It is release in September 2021, the
judgements in favour of the lettori Sapienza from 1982 to 2017, yet wrong that a member state EU Commission stated it had
dating back to the Allué ruling of his right as an EU citizen to parity can withhold with impunity given the Italian government two
1989, reported in the EL Gazette of treatment with his Italian the Treaty right to parity of months to respond.
at that time. colleagues was withheld for all 35 treatment. At this point, the So far, no further moves have
Infringement proceedings, which years of his service. Commission should immediately been reported. However, in an
are ultimately ruled on by the Speaking at the protest in advance proceedings to the answer to a recent letter from
CJEU, can result in substantial fines Rome, Mr Rollin said: “In the reasoned opinion stage”. the secretary general of the
on the member state, but evidence interests of consistency with Concern is rising among the FLC Union on the subject, the
that infringement has taken place Treaty values, compliance with lettori at the length of time it is Commission reportedly replied
is needed. Aided by Italy’s largest EU law should be an absolute taking to move the proceedings that a decision on the lettori
Union, FLC CGIL, an association of pre-condition to member states to the second stage. In a press situation would be taken “soon”.
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