Resource Provider | DISCOVER | EDUCATION ASIA | 47
How Students Think Matters Young people live in a world where it is often difficult to distinguish misinformation from trustworthy evidence and they need the skills and confidence to question, weigh and judge information. On average, across OECD countries, only 46% of students reported checking the credibility of information, surely a statistic which speaks to the need to engage children, and their parents, with how they learn, not just what they learn? In addition to testing student performance in key academic areas, in 2025, PISA also asked students about their attitudes to learning, parental support and other aspects which support high performance at school.
Students who have a “Growth Mindset,” the belief that intelligence is cultivated through work, effort and feedback, score, on average 28 points higher in the PISA science tests than those who think intelligence is inherited or unchangeable. Recognising that performance, in any area, requires agile thinking and the ability to apply knowledge in unfamiliar circumstances means that how we teach and what we expect from our students is as important as the content of our lessons. This is an area where countries in the region still have work to do. In Vietnam the percentage of students who say they have this vital mindset stands at 52% and only at 36% in Thailand against Thailand has recently launched a four-part education plan, directly in response to the country’s disappointing performance in these tests. Alongside structural support to ensure greater equality, the ministry plans to overhaul the school curriculum to focus more on growing critical thinking and problem-solving students. an OECD average of 69%. In a competitive world, mindset matters.
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