PISA results highlight educational gaps in Dominican Republic and El Salvador

Recent PISA assessment results have sparked concerns regarding educational quality and economic readiness in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.

In the Dominican Republic, Antonio Ciriaco, administrative vice-rector of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), warned that the nation is unprepared for a knowledge-based economy. He noted that over 75% of Dominican students over age 15 perform below average in mathematics, reading, and science, placing the country at the bottom of regional rankings. Ciriaco emphasized that economic growth driven by natural resources is unsustainable without human capital and argued that solutions lie in improving teacher training rather than simply merging educational ministries.

In El Salvador, the PISA 2025 data revealed significant gender disparities. Female students outperformed males in reading comprehension, while male students achieved higher scores in mathematics. While overall averages in reading and mathematics remained stable compared to 2022, the report highlighted a high rate of “rushed responses” in reading, exceeding the OECD average.