Use and Impact of PIRLS
Partly as a result of the impact of large scale international studies, Azerbaijan has implemented a national assessment program. It has become commonly understood that the development of reading literacy is vital to further education. Azerbaijan participated in PIRLS 2011, and students scored below the PIRLS scale centerpoint of 500. Because of this experience, reading plans were implemented to improve students’ reading skills, and teacher training programs have been improved to strengthen reading education.
As a part of activities to tackle to the issue of reading difficulties, the Minister of Education signed the document about the Zardabi—Development of Primary School Students’ Reading Skills project on October 20, 2015.13 Another impact of PIRLS has been the inclusion of international, modern reading techniques and analytical and logical thinking abilities in Azerbaijan’s national language curriculum. Finally, regular meetings have been organized in schools to develop students’ reading skills, at which new books are presented to students.14