Views of the European Network on Inclusive Education & Disability on the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
The incluD-ed network is very interested and involved in European policies and actions that affect people with special educational needs. Mid-January 2014, incluD-ed sent its newest position paper on the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) with the aim of drawing attention to the situation of young people with disabilities. Already on 8 October 2013, the OECD published the first results of PIAAC 2012.
The PIAAC, also known as the OECD Survey of Adult Skills, is an international survey measuring the “key cognitive and workplace skills needed for individuals to participate in society and for economies to prosper” (OECD a). The proficiency of adults in literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environments is assessed. These “key information-processing competencies” are “relevant in many social contexts and work situations, and necessary for fully integrating and participating in the labour market, education and training, and social and civic life” (OECD b).
Until today, around 166.000 adults aged 16-65 were surveyed in 24 countries worldwide including European countries such as Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Spain and the UK (ibid.). On 8 October 2013, the first results from the PIAAC 2012 Survey were released.
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- incluD-ed fully supports the good intentions and the engagement in this field shown by the OECD and congratulates the OECD for the PIAAC 2012 which is “the largest ever study organized by the OECD on the basic skills of the adult population” (Jyväskylä University, Finland, 2013).
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- incluD-ed is convinced that the PIAAC results will provide a significant source of information for developing a more fair and inclusive educational and work life.
However, incluD-ed would like to express its opinion regarding the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and the use of its results:
incluD-ed calls the OECD:
- - for the need to make the OECD Survey of Adult Skills accessible
- - to gather more precise data on people with disabilities
incluD-ed calls EU Member States:
- - to strengthen inclusive policies, programmes and services
- - to use PIAAC results to combat youth unemployment
- - for better and more inclusive education systems.
The position paper has been sent to: theOECD Directorate for Education and Skills, the International Consortium and National PIAAC contact points carrying out the PIAAC study. Furthermore, the position paper has been sent to the European Commission (DG EAC, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion), the European Council (EMCO Committee), European Parliament Members (CULT Committee, Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Disability Intergroup), to all Permanent Representations of EU MS (Employment and Education Counsellors) and to Brussels contacts of the incluD-ed network.
