PISA 2025 results show declining student performance in Romania and Hungary

The 2025 PISA test results reveal a significant decline in educational performance across several regions, most notably in Romania and Hungary. In Romania, interim Education Minister Mihai Dimian described the results as “weak,” noting that approximately 52% of students failed to reach the minimum competency level in mathematics, a threshold often associated with functional illiteracy. Dimian highlighted a discrepancy between national exam grades and PISA scores, suggesting that while students may pass curriculum-based tests, they struggle to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Experts and officials have identified several contributing factors to this decline. Andreas Schleicher, founder of the PISA program, warned that the misuse of artificial intelligence may be acting as a catalyst for the loss of critical thinking and analytical skills. In Romania, Dimian referred to the situation as a “cognitive virus,” citing social media, screen time, and fragmented attention as major concerns.

In Hungary, researcher István Nahalka noted that students performed below the international average in all three main areas. He attributed the decline to outdated pedagogical methods and the impact of digital reading habits. While the decline follows a broader international trend seen in OECD countries, the specific socio-economic challenges and the inability of school systems to support disadvantaged students remain critical issues in both nations.