Conclusion

Synthesizing the common factors among successful PISA countries highlights the interplay between educational practices and societal outcomes. It underscores the importance of investing in high-quality teaching, setting high expectations, fostering supportive environments, and implementing balanced assessment approaches that recognize and promote individual merit.

By adopting these practices, educational systems can enhance student achievement, support comprehensive development, and strengthen merit-based advancement, ensuring students are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in a global context.

This understanding leads to an exploration of the challenges associated with high-stakes testing, including the paradox of high academic achievement coinciding with high stress, and its implications for merit-based education.