The report shows that average scores in mathematics, science and reading have fallen significantly over time, raising concerns about learning levels among school students. Students across 23 countries are performing worse in studies than they did a decade ago, according to the latest results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 assessment conducted by the OECD.
The report also points to a relationship between digital device use and student performance. However, scores generally declined as screen time increased. The PISA tests the abilities of 15-year-old students across countries. The 2025 results show a continued decline in performance. Mathematics scores have dropped from 501 in 2006 to 469 in 2025, while reading scores fell from 495 to 466 during the same period. Science scores also declined from 503 to 486. The sharpest fall has come since the COVID-19 pandemic. Students who spent up to one hour a day using digital devices recorded the highest average science score of 507. Students using devices for more than two hours a day scored 482 on average, while those spending between five and seven hours recorded an average score of just 434.
