ABSTRACT
The results of the first PISA study provoked uncertainty in Switzerland as in a number of other countries. These initial uncertainties have since had a positive influence on the development of the Swiss education system. Among other things, there has been a shift from mainly an input orientation towards the stipulation of student competencies. The Confederation and the cantons agreed to participate jointly in a systematic, continuous, and scientifically based monitoring scheme and to regularly evaluate the development and performance of compulsory education within this framework. One aim is to verify that national education standards are met. The entire process of conducting this verification is geared towards PISA and benefits from its well-established organizational structures, while the learning material to be tested is developed in conjunction with representatives from the different linguistic regions. This chapter describes how PISA can be embedded in the monitoring scheme alongside the national evaluation system.
