Review of Improving a Country’s Education: PISA 2018 Results in 10 Countries, by Nuno Crato (Ed.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14507/er.v28.4656Abstract
This edited book analyzes international educational performance using PISA 2018 data, focusing on how different national education systems influence student achievement. Through comparative case studies of several countries that show how improvements in educational outcomes depend not only on financial investment but also on the coherence between curriculum design, assessment systems, and education policy implementation, the book highlights the importance of policy consistency, institutional stability, and system-wide alignment in achieving effective educational reform. It also critically addresses the limitations of PISA data in explaining causality, emphasizing the need to complement international assessments with national-level evidence and contextual analysis.
Author Biographies
Sagita Aprilione, Universitas Jambi
Sagita Aprilione is currently pursuing a graduate degree in mathematics education at Universitas Jambi, where she also earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics education. Beyond her academic interests, she works as a mathematics tutor for students across a wide range of levels, from elementary and junior high school to senior high school, as well as prospective university students. She favors a fun and interactive approach to mathematics, hoping to give her students an enjoyable experience in learning the subject.
Duano Sapta Nusantara, Universitas Jambi
Duano Sapta Nusantara earned his PhD in mathematics education in 2023 at the Universitas Sriwijaya. He is a lecturer and researcher in mathematics education at Universitas Jambi. His scholarly work focuses on realistic mathematics education, task design in PISA, and design research. He is actively involved in research, academic collaborations, and the development of educational policies and instructional frameworks, with publications in Hemanages MEJ-Mathematics Education Journal (Scopus Q2), and nationally accredited journals such as Edumatica: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika and Jurnal Karya Abdi Masyarakat.
Nguyen Tien Da, Hanoi Metropolitan University
Nguyen Tien Da is expert in the fields of educational science and mathematics, currently working at the Faculty of Education, Hanoi Metropolitan University, as a lecturer and deputy director of the master's program in elementary mathematics methods. He graduated with a PhD in theory and methods of teaching mathematics from the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences in 2024 and possesses extensive experience in teaching and in-depth scientific research on calculus, differential equations, and modern teaching methods such as realistic mathematics education, flipped classroom, and project-based learning. Dr. Tien Da has published numerous high-quality scientific articles in international and domestic journals and actively participates in research projects and mentors students who have won many high awards in Mathematics Olympiads and student scientific research competitions.
References
Meyer, H.-D., & Benavot, A. (Eds.). (2013). PISA, power, and policy: The emergence of global educational governance. Symposium Books. https://doi.org/10.15730/books.85
Nusantara, D. S., Zulkardi, & Putri, R. I. I. (2021). Designing PISA-like mathematics task using a COVID-19 context (PISAComat). Journal on Mathematics Education, 12(2), 349–364. https://doi.org/10.22342/jme.12.2.13181.349-364
Sahlberg, P. (2011). Finnish lessons: What can the world learn from educational change in Finland? Teachers College Press. https://doi.org/10.65528/9780807779293
Sellar, S., & Lingard, B. (2014). The OECD and the expansion of PISA: New global modes of governance in education. British Educational Research Journal, 40(6), 917–936. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3120
[Book reviewed] Crato, N. (Ed.) (2021). Improving a country’s education: PISA 2018 results in 10 countries. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-59031-4
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