The Western Balkans region has clear aspirations to improve its economic competitiveness
and integrate further into Europe. A highly skilled population is critical to achieving
these goals, which makes creating and maintaining high quality and equitable education
systems a vital part of regional development efforts. Results from the Programme for
International Student Assessment (PISA) show that learning outcomes in the region
have improved over time, but that the improvement has not been equitable. Some students
are performing similarly to students from countries in the European Union, while others
are lagging further behind.
This report, developed in co-operation with the European Commission and UNICEF, analyses
PISA data in detail to identify the strengths, challenges and unique features of education
systems in the Western Balkans. Drawing upon a rich knowledge base of education policy
and practice in the region, it makes recommendations about how systems in the region
can improve learning for all students. This report will be of interest to regional
policy-makers as well as individuals who wish to learn more about education in the
Western Balkans.