Overview
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s PISA 2025 results, published on Sept. 13–14, reveal large drops in measurable learning and stark within-country gaps across participating systems.
- Spain posted its worst-ever PISA performance with a 23-point fall in reading, 16-point fall in math and 8-point fall in science, and OECD analysts link part of the drop to briefer reading habits and heavy screen use that harm comprehension of longer texts.
- Mexican analyses using IBERO data show a 68-point gap between the top and bottom socio-economic quartiles—equal to about three to four school years—and report that only a small share of disadvantaged students reach the highest national scores.
- PISA and country researchers highlight rapid, student-driven adoption of AI and devices in Mexico, with only 8% of students never using AI and roughly half of schools reporting tech shortfalls, and they warn that frequent AI use without critical training can worsen outcomes.
- Experts and analysts urge policymakers to translate PISA evidence into long-term actions that target equity, strengthen teacher support and expand critical digital training rather than pursue frequent curricular overhauls.