PETALING JAYA: The education ministry will use the 2025 scores in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) and data from other national and international assessments to identify learning gaps in the education system.
In a written parliamentary reply, education minister Fadhlina Sidek said this data would also be used to determine intervention measures to prioritise in schools.
"The Pisa scores need to be seen as a reminder that education transformation requires continuous effort and consistent improvement.
"We cannot hope for change to take place in the blink of an eye. Nonetheless, we cannot be satisfied with approaches that do not result in the improvements we hoped to see.
"The 2025 Pisa scores are a clear sign that our efforts need to be strengthened," she said in reply to Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas), who asked why Malaysia's Pisa scores had dropped despite students reportedly performing better in national exams.
While Malaysia's Pisa scores in Mathematics declined, Fadhlina said the nation scored better in Science, showcasing relatively stronger computational problem-solving skills.
"This strength needs to be harnessed while we address the weaknesses identified," she added.
Fadhlina said excelling in Maths was not merely about memorising formulas but understanding concepts and solving problems, which also demands strong linguistic comprehension.
She added that students sitting for Pisa in 2029 must have continuous support starting now, all the way through primary and secondary school.
The minister acknowledged room for improvement in allocating Maths teachers according to school needs, saying she will look into this.
"This is important to ensure students obtain quality teaching in line with the expertise of teachers."