FAQ

What does TALIS evaluate?

TALIS evaluates experiences, work conditions, and professional development of teachers

Data obtained is not used to evaluate individual work of teachers or school leaders. The very format of the data makes it impossible to identify any individual or institution, as the data is anonymized and used solely for research purposes.

Who participates in the survey?

TALIS participants are school leaders and teachers of lower secondary education (grades 5–9)

Students do not participate in the study.

How is the survey conducted?

Representatives from two respondent groups (teachers, school leaders) complete two questionnaires with somewhat different questions, as the nature of their work varies

The questionnaires primarily contain multiple-choice questions. There is a small number of open-ended questions. The Survey is conducted online, on a dedicated OECD platform, and can be completed in a convenient location at any time during the field trial and main stage of the study.

How exactly were schools selected to participate in the survey?

The sample was formed by the OECD partner organization, IEA (International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement)

The sample was constructed based on geographical criteria (including schools from all parts of the country—north, south, center, west, east), by type of locality (rural and urban schools), and also by form of ownership (municipal/state and private schools).
Only schools with grades 5–9 could be included in the sample (it is teachers of these grades who are the respondents).
Furthermore, the OECD does not include schools in the sample that provide special education, to ensure that data obtained is comparable across sites.

More details on the sample can be found in the TALIS in Ukraine section.

Who will have access to the responses obtained through the survey?

Responses from Ukrainian educators (just as in other countries) are received (and subsequently stored) only by the OECD directly

Neither the TALIS National Survey Center, nor the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, nor the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA), nor other partners in Ukraine collect, store, or have access to individual-level responses.

Can the results of a school’s participation in the Survey negatively impact on its overall rating?

This has been made impossible

The study does not involve any comparison of results at the level of individual schools (or even a community or region).

Will personal data of survey participants end up in any databases?

The personal data of participants are collected by the Ukrainian side only during the preparatory stage and solely for the purpose of facilitating initial coordination and communication with the participants. This data is not transferred outside of Ukraine. All answers to the questionnaire questions are anonymous and therefore de-personified

Protection of Personal Data (of teachers and principals) is carried out in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Personal Data.” Only the TALIS National Servey Center has access to this data. The personal data obtained cannot be used to identify individuals as it is securely protected. All individuals involved in TALIS administration in Ukraine sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding confidential information.

Is such a study an unnecessary stress factor and an additional burden on teachers and administrations of schools amid the war in Ukraine?

Any international monitoring study is a significant collaborative effort

More than 5,000 individuals in various roles are involved in the organization and implementation of the field trial and the main stage of TALIS in Ukraine.

OECD standards stipulate that the administration of the study is primarily the responsibility of regional coordinators, survey administrators, and the TALIS National Survey Center and co-organizing partners. This means that it is conducted with a minimal burden on educational institutions and teaching staff.

Can the survey results negatively impact Ukraine’s image in the global educational space, given the unequal conditions compared to other countries due to the russian federation’s military aggression?

The organizers are fully aware of the current situation in Ukraine

While we cannot influence the circumstances, we understand the strength and nature of the challenges education is facing.

The TALIS National Survey Center believes we can obtain encouraging results for humanity, as Ukraine is currently living through a unique experience for the 21st century. The study covers a wide range of teaching practices, many of which are adapted to the wartime conditions in which Ukraine’s education system operates, and this is valuable in the global context.

Furthermore, previous cycles of PISA and SSES international surveys in Ukraine took place during the full-scale invasion and demonstrated that in terms of image, such assessments are, on the contrary, positive for Ukraine.

Are governmental funds used to conduct the survey?

Funds from the state or local budgets of Ukraine are not used towards the survey

To participate in TALIS, the site has to make a financial contribution of 290,000 EUR. Given the challenging economic situation in Ukraine, the OECD has found opportunities to secure funding for the country’s participation. Current organizational costs are covered by donord. Funds from the state or local budgets of Ukraine are not used towards the study.