The countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) - an initiative between the Member States of the European Union and Eastern European and South Caucasus countries - are navigating significant challenges while striving for sustainable economic growth and social cohesion. Education plays a crucial role in unlocking the potential of digitalisation and the green transition, offering pathways for economic diversification and innovation. This report, developed in co-operation with the European Commission and UNICEF, analyses PISA data for the EaP countries and economies that participated in PISA 2022: Baku (Azerbaijan), Georgia, Moldova, and Ukrainian regions. It identifies the strengths and challenges within these education systems and provides recommendations on how to build more resilient, equitable, and high-performing systems to support economic and social goals. This report will be of particular interest to policymakers and stakeholders dedicated to advancing education across the Eastern Partnership region.

The OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) examines what students know in reading, mathematics and science, and what they can do with what they know. It provides the most comprehensive and rigorous international assessment of student learning outcomes to date. Results from PISA indicate the quality and equity of learning outcomes attained around the world, and allow educators and policy makers to learn from the policies and practices applied in other countries. This country note provides a country-specific overview of Baku (Azerbaijan).

Countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have clear aspirations to strengthen civic participation and increase prosperity for all. A highly skilled and knowledgeable 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 generally improved, but that the improvement has not been equitable. While countries in the region are producing some of the top performing students in the world, many other students are being left behind. This report, jointly developed by OECD and UNICEF, analyses PISA data in detail to identify the strengths, challenges and unique features of education systems in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Drawing upon a rich knowledge base of education policy and practice in the region, it makes recommendations about how systems in the region can provide an excellent education 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 Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine).