Education systems must adapt their measurement frameworks to prioritize skills that foster student growth and adaptability for future challenges.
By Yuri Belfali, Head of Early Childhood and Schools, OECD, Robbie Dean, Senior Director, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning at Teach For All and the Global Institute for Shaping a Better Future, Olivier Bréchard, Director of International Relations at Learning Planet Institute, and Molade Adeniyi, CEO of Teach For Nigeria
The emergence of AI and rapid technological advancements is altering the landscape of learning and engagement for today’s youth. This transformation presents both promising opportunities and daunting challenges. As societies increasingly navigate complexities in the professional sphere, there's a growing imperative to cultivate the skills necessary for adaptability and creative problem-solving among students. This urgency is underscored by the findings from the PISA 2025 report, which revealed alarming deficits in essential skills that students will need in an AI-driven world. Specifically, while some education systems are excelling at promoting desirable traits such as resilience and a growth mindset, many others are lagging behind, prompting critical inquiries into which student outcomes truly matter for future readiness and how we gauge them.
During a recent convening by leading education organizations at Education House in New York, educators and student representatives engaged in dialogue about fostering environments that nurture both social and emotional development alongside academic success. There's an emerging consensus around the necessity of clearly defining and assessing these more holistic outcomes. The OECD's Education for Human Flourishing framework sets forth principles emphasizing collaborative agency, perseverance, and meaningful interpersonal relationships. Insights derived from Teach For All’s global network of high-impact classrooms have identified six interrelated outcomes that span both student and educator development: purpose, wellbeing, awareness, connectedness, agency, and expertise.
Yet, despite the availability of these frameworks, there remains a significant gap in the measurement of the skills and outcomes we aspire to nurture in students. A poignant reflection from Raquel Jardim, a student from Williams College, highlights this issue: she expressed a desire to impact her community positively but felt confined to traditional metrics of success that focused solely on college admissions, neglecting attributes like problem-solving and empathy.
Current research indicates that it is indeed feasible to measure these broader outcomes effectively. For instance, the PISA framework now acknowledges the importance of multi-dimensional outcomes—such as student aspirations, technological engagement, collective agency, perseverance, and a sense of belonging—alongside academic competencies. A study from the Global Institute for Shaping a Better Future reveals that when educators employ holistic student outcome metrics, combined with feedback loops involving students, coaches, and self-assessments, they more successfully promote positive educational experiences. Additionally, RAND Corporation's research on Teach for Nigeria demonstrates that assessing foundational literacy and numeracy alongside skills like growth mindset and social awareness helps educators better address individual student needs, thereby accelerating learning outcomes.
Globally, there are encouraging movements toward alternatives to conventional academic assessments. The Learning Planet Institute is exploring student-led action research models and longitudinal portfolios that can provide deeper insights into student engagement and development, moving beyond simple test scores. Furthermore, in Taiwan, learning portfolios increasingly play a vital role in university admissions alongside traditional examination results.
Measurement for a Better Future
It's essential that education systems intentionally develop and assess the outcomes discussed. Achieving this requires a focus on clarity regarding what outcomes are prioritized and ensuring sensitivity to the contexts and developmental stages of young learners. The key challenge is to not merely expand measurement but to refine what we measure, emphasizing what truly matters. Now more than ever, educators, system leaders, and communities have a pivotal opportunity to rethink the educational objectives we set for our students and, crucially, align assessment practices with the futures we envision for them.
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