EDUCATION MATTERS
research into young people’s readiness to fulfil their civic responsibilities. References to ICCS as a significant and reliable performance indicator also appear in earlier legislation and policy guidelines.
are incorporated into the categories and elements of the education quality monitoring system, specifically within the elements “ Equality and well-being ” and “ Safety and well-being ,” which fall under the broader categories of “ Achievement ” and “ Inclusive environment, ” respectively. MoES commissioned a secondary analysis of the 2022 ICCS. This in-depth study focused on a topic of particular relevance to education policy and the development of core competencies in Latvia: student self-government as an early form of civic participation and its role in strengthening civic engagement skills within the curriculum. Findings from ICCS 2022 and OECD PISA 2022 were used to develop research- and evidence-based teaching and learning strategies aimed at strengthening civic education competencies among students and teachers—integrating knowledge, skills, and attitudes. As a result of the research, the State Methodological Centre received methodological recommendations, and a seminar for school leadership teams and social science teachers was scheduled for November 2024. Teaching materials for civic education teachers in grades 7–9 were developed to support the delivery of civic education content within the social sciences curriculum. These resources focus on the topics where Latvian Grade 8 students demonstrated the weakest performance in the ICCS 2022 survey. In summary, Latvia’s long-standing participation in ICCS has played a significant role in shaping civic education content and informing national policy. ICCS results are now used as key performance indicators in major strategic planning documents and support reforms aimed at strengthening civic knowledge and participation. However, despite ongoing policy efforts, broader use of ICCS insights could further strengthen evidence-based decision-making and improve the effectiveness of civic education in schools. ■
However, despite the increased emphasis on civic education in Latvian legislation and policy documents, the systematic use of ICCS results could offer a clearer picture of young people’s civic knowledge and engagement. This, in turn, would support more targeted policy decisions and potentially enhance young people’s sense of self-efficacy and civic participation. ICCS RESULTS CAN BE USED TO IMPROVE THE CONTENT OF EDUCATION Since 2019, the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) has been developing a national education quality monitoring system. This system is designed to collect data from multiple sources, including local research, routine data analyses, and international studies. International studies constitute one of the key components of the education quality monitoring system. The content of civic education and the ICCS study “ICCS results are now used as key performance indicators in major strategic planning documents and support reforms aimed at strengthening civic knowledge and participation.”
37
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting