The Ministry of Education officially launched Rwanda’s participation in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) on Friday, August 30.

PISA, conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is an international large-scale assessment designed to evaluate the proficiency of 15-year-old students in reading literacy, mathematics, and scientific literacy.

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By participating in PISA, Rwanda aims to measure its education system against global standards, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of student outcomes, officials said.

PISA is conducted in two phases. The first phase, a field trial, took place from May 27 to June 6 this year in 45 schools, involving 1,440 students.

The second phase, the main survey, will be conducted from April 27 to June 7, 2025. This phase will involve 7,350 students across 210 schools nationwide.

Minister of Education Gaspard Twagirayezu said that the PISA assessment will serve as an evaluation tool for Rwanda&039;s education system.

He said its results will help strengthen best practices and guide the review of teaching, learning, and assessment policies.

"We recently completed a field trial that confirmed our readiness for the main survey, which will begin in June next year. Following the survey, we’ll engage various stakeholders to discuss the lessons learned,” Twagirayezu said.

HE explained that not all students will participate, instead, they will select schools with 15-year-old students, send the list to the assessment organisers and then choose the specific number of students to take part in the assessment.

"This assessment will improve our education policies and strategies, aligning with our Vision 2050, which aims to transform Rwanda into a knowledge-based economy,” the minister said.

He added that Rwanda’s participation in PISA will be an "important step in comparing our education policies and practices with global standards, helping us shape our strategies to meet our 2050 goals.”

Andreas Schleicher, the Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, explained that Rwanda’s participation in PISA requires students to demonstrate not just their knowledge but also how they apply it, think creatively, and work collaboratively.

He said that this internationally benchmarked assessment is different from traditional exams.

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"Over 100 countries are working together on this exam, learning valuable lessons,” Schleicher said.

"Rwanda, as one of the pioneering countries in Africa, made the decision to participate in this global assessment and quickly conducted a successful field trial.”

He said that preparations for the main assessment next year are well underway, adding that he was confident it will be successfully implemented in Rwanda.

"PISA is a pathway, not a competition. It’s an opportunity for schools and countries to learn from each other to make education more relevant,” Schleicher noted.

"We aim to ensure students are assessed on skills that matter in the workforce and for their future. With capable institutions like the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) leading the implementation, Rwanda is well-positioned to benefit from this assessment,” he added.

The insights gained from PISA will help guide evidence-based policy decisions aimed at improving educational quality, equity, and global competitiveness, as well as enhancing learning outcomes.