PISA test results show divergent literacy trends in Czech Republic and Poland

Recent PISA testing results have highlighted varying trends in student literacy and academic performance across Europe. In the Czech Republic, literacy expert Hana Košťálová warns of a decline in reading proficiency among fifteen-year-olds. She suggests that teachers should encourage longer periods of continuous reading to help students achieve a “reading flow” and warns that the use of AI-generated, overly simplified texts may hinder the development of critical thinking and complex interpretation skills.

In contrast, Polish students have performed above the European Union average in mathematics, science, and reading. Deputy Minister of Education Katarzyna Lubnauer noted that while Polish results have stabilized following significant declines between 2018 and 2022—attributed to the pandemic and educational reforms—there remains a broader “deep crisis” within the European Union's educational landscape. Lubnauer credited Polish teachers for helping to halt the previous downward trend in student scores.