Chile implements new reading assessments amid low Simce scores

Chile is implementing new educational measures to address significant learning gaps in reading and mathematics. The Agencia de la Calidad de la Educación has introduced ‘Impulso Lector’, a national census evaluation designed for second-grade students. This initiative aims to detect reading difficulties early by focusing on precursor skills, reading comprehension, and fluency, allowing for pedagogical interventions before academic struggles deepen.

This move follows concerning data from the 2025 Simce results analyzed by Acción Educar. The study, which surveyed 188,654 tenth-grade students, revealed that 60.5% of students achieved an insufficient level in either mathematics or reading. The data highlights significant disparities: 74.7% of students in SLEP-managed schools showed insufficient performance, compared to 24.5% in private paid institutions. Additionally, rurality remains a factor, with 69% of rural students showing insufficient levels compared to 60.3% in urban areas.