Declining literacy and cognitive skills observed in Czech youth

Recent data and observations indicate a decline in key cognitive and literacy skills among children and adolescents. In the Czech Republic, PISA 2025 results show that while the country remains above the OECD average, reading literacy among 15-year-olds has dropped by 22 points between 2022 and 2025. Approximately 27 percent of Czech students fail to reach even the basic level of reading proficiency.

Experts suggest this decline is linked to a reduction in executive functions, which include working memory, self-control, and cognitive flexibility. The modern digital environment, characterized by instant gratification, is cited as a factor that may undermine a child's ability to resist impulses and manage multi-tasking.

There are significant disparities in performance based on educational paths; students in multi-year grammar schools perform well, while those in vocational tracks without a school-leaving exam show much lower proficiency. This suggests that difficulties in mastering basic literacy often begin during primary education.