What is the history of TALIS?

( Teachers Assessment of Learning Instruction Survey)

TALIS was developed as part of the OECDs Indicators of Education Systems (IES! "ro#ect$ which$
over the past %& years has developed a coherent set of indicators that provide a relia'le 'asis for
the (uantitative comparison of the functionin) and performance of education systems in OECD
and partner countries* "rovidin) information on teachers$ teachin) and learnin) is an essential
component of the IES pro)ramme$ At the IES +eneral Assem'ly in %&&& in To,yo$ countries
called for increased attention to teachers and teachin) in future wor,* The importance of teachers$
includin) the need for 'etter information on the (uality of learnin) and how teachin) influences
learnin) was affirmed at the meetin) of education su'-.inisters in Du'lin in %&&/* To address the
)aps in the ,nowled)e 'ase on teachers and teachin)$ a data strate)y was developed that
proposed steps towards improvin) the indicators on teachers$ teachin) and learnin)* The strate)y
that was developed identified strands of wor,$ one of which was an international survey on
teachers$ which evolved into the TALIS pro)ramme*
At the same time$ the OECD review of teacher policy$ which concluded with the report Teachers
.atter0 Attractin)$ Developin) and 1etainin) Effective Teachers (OECD$ %&&2!$ identified a need to
develop 'etter national and international information on teachers* The policy framewor, used in
the policy review as well as the specific data )aps and priorities that it hi)hli)hts were
instrumental in the desi)n of TALIS*

What makes TALIS unique?
TALIS is the first international survey pro)ramme to focus on the learnin) environment and the
wor,in) conditions of teachers in schools* It fills important information )aps in the international
comparisons of education systems*

Which countries/economies participate in TALIS?
OECD mem'er countries and non-mem'er economies can participate in TALIS* %3 countries too,
part in TALIS %&&4 (the first cycle of TALIS!0 Australia$ Austria$ 5el)ium$ 5ra6il$ 5ul)aria$
Denmar,$ Estonia$ 7un)ary$ Iceland$ Ireland$ Italy$ 1epu'lic of 8orea$ Lithuania$ .alta$ .alaysia$
.e9ico$ etherlands$ orway$ "oland$ "ortu)al$ Spain$ Slova, 1epu'lic$ Slovenia and Tur,ey*
A'out /& countries or re)ions will ta,e part in TALIS %&:/ (the second cycle!* The followin) OECD
countries or re)ions have already #oined TALIS %&:/0 Australia$ 5el)ium (;landers!$ Canada
(Al'erta!$ C6ech 1epu'lic$ Denmar,$ Estonia$ ;inland$ ;rance$ Iceland$ Israel$ Italy$ <apan$
1epu'lic of 8orea$ .e9ico$ etherlands$ orway$ "oland$ "ortu)al$ Spain$ Sweden$ =nited 8in)dom
(En)land! and =nited States* In addition$ the followin) non-mem'er economies will ta,e part in
the survey0 A'u Dha'i$ Chile$ Croatia$ Latvia and Ser'ia*

Ho are countries/economies chosen to participate in TALIS?
Countries>economies>su'national entities interested in participatin) in TALIS should contact the
OECD Secretariat* "articipants must have the technical e9pertise necessary to administer an
international assessment and must 'e a'le to meet the costs of participation*

Who pays for TALIS?
TALIS is financed throu)h )overnment authorities of countries>economies that participate in
TALIS$ typically education ministries*

Who is Who in TALIS

Who are the institutions an! teams "ehin! TALIS?
Education authorities in the participatin) countries and economies* TALIS would not 'e possi'le
without the support and )uidance of the education ministries in the participatin) countries*

The OECD Secretariat
The OECD Secretariat is responsi'le for the day-to-day mana)ement of TALIS* This means that
the TALIS team monitors the surveys implementation$ mana)es administrative matters for the
TALIS 5oard of "articipatin) Countries$ 'uilds consensus amon) countries and serves as a )o-
'etween for the TALIS 5"C and the International Consortium* Clic, here to see the OECD
Secretariat contact list for TALIS*

The TALIS Board of Participating Countries
Each country participatin) in TALIS has a representative on the TALIS 5oard of "articipatin)
Countries The chair of the TALIS 5"C is chosen 'y the 5oard itself*
+uided 'y the OECDs education o'#ectives$ the 5oard determines the policy priorities for TALIS
and ma,es sure that these are respected durin) the implementation of TALIS*

The International Contractors (the "TALIS Consortium"
;or each TALIS cycle$ International Contractor(s! are responsi'le for the desi)n and
implementation of the surveys* The contractors are chosen 'y the TALIS 5oard of "articipatin)
Countries throu)h an international call for tender* The contractors are typically referred to as the
TALIS Consortium*

The TALIS !ational Pro"ect #anagers
?or,in) with the OECD Secretariat$ the TALIS 5oard of "articipatin) Countries and the
international contractor$ the TALIS ational "ro#ect .ana)ers oversee the implementation of TALIS
in each participatin) country>economy* The TALIS ational "ro#ect .ana)ers are appointed 'y
their )overnments*

The TALIS Technical Ad$isor% &roup (TA&
E9perts in the Technical Advisory +roup support the survey development and implementation*

The TALIS Instrument De$elopment E'pert &roup (IDE&
The Instrument Development E9pert +roup provides leadership and )uidance in the construction
of the TALIS (uestionnaires* The mem'ers of the IDE+ are selected 'y the TALIS 5oard of
"articipatin) Countries*

The Survey and Questionnaires

Who takes the TALIS survey?
The first cycle of TALIS @ TALIS %&&4 @ surveyed teachers of lower secondary education and the
principals of the schools in which they wor,* TALIS %&:/ (the second cycle! will also survey
teachers of lower secondary education and the principals* In addition$ countries have an option to
e9pand the survey to elementary$ upper secondary schools$ and to schools that participate in "ISA
%&:%*
?ithin participatin) countries$ schools as well as teachers within schools$ are randomly selected to
ta,e part in TALIS* ;or each country @ e9cept for smaller countries @ some %&& schools and %&
teachers within each of these schools are sampled*

Ho is the TALIS survey con!ucte!?
Each (uestionnaire ta,es a'out 32 minutes to complete* The TALIS survey can 'e completed on
line and with pencil and paper*
The survey responses are entirely confidential and at no time are the names of individual
teachers$ principals or schools identified*

Who creates the test questions?
Separate (uestionnaires for teachers and principals are developed 'y international e9perts in the
TALIS Instrument Development +roup* Auestionnaires are discussed throu)hout their
development with the participatin) countries$ teacher representative 'odies$ in particular the
Trades =nion Advisory Council (T=AC! at the OECD*
The (uestions are reviewed 'y the international contractors and 'y participants and are carefully
chec,ed for cultural 'ias* ;urther$ 'efore the real survey there is a pilot in some participants and a
full field trial run in all participants* If (uestions prove to have 'een to difficult to interpret in
certain countries>economies$ they are dropped from the real survey in all countries and
economies*

Are the TALIS questionnaires avai#a"#e to the genera# pu"#ic?
The TALIS %&&4 (uestionnaires are availa'le in TALIS %&&4 Technical 1eport (OECD$ %&&B!* Clic,
here for the report* The TALIS %&:/ (uestionnaires are under development and will 'e released
with the TALIS %&:/ Technical 1eport*

Are the !ata from the TALIS surveys pu"#ic#y avai#a"#e?
Ces* Clic, here for the TALIS %&&4 data'ases*

Are the resu#ts of every participant$s performance in TALIS pu"#ishe!?
+enerally$ yes @ the TALIS reports pu'lished after each cycle include data from all participants as
lon) as the data and the amount of teachers (the sample si6e! meet certain standards* If the
standards are not attained$ dependin) on the reason$ the data are either not pu'lished at all or
pu'lished 'ut set apart from data of other countries with an e9planatory note*

;or e9ample$ in TALIS %&&4$ the response rate for the etherlands fell short of the minimum
re(uirement of D2E and did not warrant inclusion in the TALIS %&&4 data'ase* Therefore$ the
etherlands is e9cluded from trend analysis relatin) to TALIS %&&4*

Further Questions

Ho can I #earn more a"out TALIS?
Clic, here to access TALIS pu'lications and data'ases
Clic, here to visit the OECDs Directorate for Education*

I have a question a"out TALIS an! I haven%t foun! the information I nee! in this &A'(
?e welcome (uestions and su))estions for areas that need further e9planation* "lease send us
your comments and (ueries at edu*talisFoecd*or)* ?e aim to answer all individual messa)es* In
addition$ this site will 'e re)ularly updated to reflect your input*

--------------------------------
7ome
TALIS %&:/
TALIS %&&4
The 1each and Impact of TALIS
"u'lications$ data files$ videos and lin,s
5riefin) notes and overviews of countries
?hoGs who in TALIS
Contacts
Also available: