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European Union PISA 2025 results show decline in student core competencies
The European Commission has released an analysis of the OECD PISA 2025 results, revealing a sustained decline in the core competencies of 15-year-old students across the European Union. The report indicates that 33.9% of EU students are performing below minimum levels in mathematics, 31.3% in reading, and 25.9% in science. These figures suggest the EU is moving further away from its 2030 goal of reducing unsatisfactory results to below 15% in all areas.
Furthermore, the proportion of high-performing students is also decreasing, with excellence levels recorded at 4.8% in reading, 6.4% in science, and 6.8% in mathematics—well below the EU target of at least 12% by 2030. The analysis highlights significant equity challenges, noting that disadvantaged students are approximately four times more likely to achieve poor science results than their advantaged peers.
In specific regions, Estonia and Poland were noted as the only EU countries to meet the excellence target in mathematics. Conversely, countries like Bulgaria and Portugal reported significant declines, with Portuguese officials attributing the drop to the negative impact of social media and smartphones on student concentration.
Entities
Argentina · Bulgaria · Esteban Bullrich · Estonia · European Commission · European Union · Fernando Alexandre · OECD · Pisa · Poland
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 18 SOURCES] Unsatisfactory results were recorded for 33.9% in mathematics, 31.3% in reading, and 25.9% in science. beta.rs · n1info.hr · nova.rs · ruse.news · safenews.md · +13 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] The EU aims to reduce unsatisfactory educational results to below 15% in all areas by 2030. beta.rs · n1info.hr · nova.rs · ruse.news · safenews.md · +12 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] The share of top-performing students in 2025 is 4.8% in reading, 6.4% in science, and 6.8% in mathematics. beta.rs · n1info.hr · nova.rs · ruse.news · safenews.md · +12 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] Disadvantaged students are four times more likely to have poor science results than advantaged students. n1info.hr · ruse.news · safenews.md · trn.mk · www.tveuropa.pt · +12 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] EU students are achieving unsatisfactory results in mathematics, reading, and science. beta.rs · n1info.hr · nova.rs · ruse.news · safenews.md · +13 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] Only Estonia and Poland met the EU target for excellence in mathematics. beta.rs · n1info.hr · nova.rs · ruse.news · safenews.md · +11 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] The proportion of high-performing students in the EU is declining. ruse.news · safenews.md · trn.mk · www.tveuropa.pt · tocka.com.mk · +6 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The PISA 2025 assessment was conducted by the OECD. www.radiocluj.ro · ruse.news · safenews.md · trn.mk · www.tveuropa.pt · +9 more