PISA results show decline in Spanish reading comprehension

Recent PISA results indicate a significant decline in reading comprehension among Spanish adolescents, with scores dropping 45 points compared to 2015. Spain currently performs below the OECD average. The data suggests that while adolescents may read more quickly, they struggle with precision, integration, and the evaluation of information.

Experts attribute this decline to several factors, primarily the impact of digital environments. The use of internet and social media is cited as a major influence, with the addictive design of these platforms potentially undermining attention spans and deep reading abilities. There is a documented phenomenon where children begin to lose interest in reading as early as age nine.

In Catalonia, the situation is complicated by the fact that the OECD excluded the region from certain metrics due to methodological errors. The findings highlight a growing tension between traditional educational foundations—based on discipline and focused reading—and a digital landscape that favors fragmented information consumption.