Overview
- PISA 2025 finds average performance in reading, mathematics and science at their lowest levels in many OECD countries and records a rise in hurried, surface reading that harms comprehension of longer texts.
- The assessment documents growing student use of generative AI for schoolwork and reports worse outcomes when AI is used to replace students' cognitive effort rather than to support learning.
- Spain posted particularly large falls, with reading down about 23 points, mathematics 16 points and science 8 points, while regions such as Galicia saw the share of students below minimum standards jump sharply.
- Education leaders, university deans and teacher alliances are demanding emergency plans, five-year reform pacts and measures such as clearer classroom device rules, expanded teacher training and renewed focus on basic skills.
- The OECD stresses these are correlations not proven causes, notes the decline began before mass generative-AI uptake, and highlights wide cross-country variation that shows high tech use can coexist with strong results.