Academia de la Lengua Guaraní disputes claims linking Guaraní language to low PISA scores

The Academia de la Lengua Guaraní (ALG) has expressed deep concern regarding statements made by Paraguay’s Minister of Education and Sciences, Luis Ramírez, concerning the country’s low PISA 2025 test results. The Minister suggested that the prevalence of the Guaraní language contributed to the decline in educational performance.

The ALG refuted this claim, stating that there is no scientific evidence that bilingualism or multilingualism hinders learning. The institution pointed to successful multilingual nations such as Finland, Switzerland, Singapore, and Luxembourg as examples of high-performing countries that teach through their official languages.

Instead, the ALG identified insufficient financial investment as the primary cause of the educational crisis. The organization noted that Paraguay invests the least per student in the region, falling significantly short of the 6% to 7% of GDP recommended by UNESCO. This lack of funding has resulted in deteriorating school infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where Guaraní speakers are concentrated. The ALG emphasized that the issue lies within the educational system and the failure to properly implement bilingual education, rather than the language itself.