A study by the Shoresh Institution found that parental occupation is a stronger predictor of student PISA performance than parental education level.
Key facts
- •The study analyzed data from 10,336 students aged 15 who took Hebrew-language PISA tests.
- •Parental occupation accounted for more than double the difference in student scores compared to parental education.
- •Children of fathers in university teaching, science, or research scored approximately 7.3% higher than the comparison group.
- •Children of mothers in technology, information, or software fields scored about 6.8% higher than the mothers' comparison group.
- •The study did not establish that parental jobs directly cause differences in student achievement.
A new study from the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research reveals that a parent's occupation is more than twice as influential on a student's PISA scores as their level of education. Researchers analyzed data from 10,336 Hebrew-speaking 15-year-olds who took the international assessment between 2012 and 2022. The findings, published Thursday, suggest that labor market standing is a significant factor in understanding a student's academic starting point.
By the numbers
Study Methodology and Scope
The research, conducted by Ariela Savin, Prof. Ayal Kimhi, and Prof. Dan Ben-David, examined average results in reading, mathematics, and science. The analysis controlled for variables including parental birthplace, gender, household resources like books and computers, and parental education. Students who took the PISA tests in Arabic were excluded from the study due to discrepancies between student-reported data and official Central Bureau of Statistics records.
Occupational Links to Achievement
The study found that children of fathers in fields like university teaching, research, and technology scored significantly higher than those in a comparison group of sales, security, and construction workers. For mothers, technology-related roles were also linked to higher scores, while children of early-childhood educators and teaching assistants scored lower than the mothers' comparison group. Researchers noted that these findings show an association rather than a causal link, as other unmeasured household factors may influence the results.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Jerusalem Post.
