Latest PISA survey reveals 4 in 10 Mexican students do not meet basic level in science, math and reading

A recent OECD-led global education assessment has exposed a significant drop in the abilities of Mexican 15-year-olds in science, mathematics and reading. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), administered to 7,843 students from 297 schools in Mexico, found that 41.8% of participants scored below the basic level in these subjects, a figure more than double the 19.7% average across OECD countries.

This places Mexican students well below their global counterparts, with test results reflecting both a decline relative to international peers and a worsening of their own performance.

The OECD's Director of Education and Skills, Andreas Schleicher, noted a concerning global trend of declining reading skills, particularly in Mexico. Despite this, there is a positive aspect to the situation. The survey revealed that 80% of Mexican 15-year-olds expressed curiosity about various topics, a 7% increase compared to the global average. Moreover, only 11% of students believed that school is a waste of time, significantly lower than the OECD average of 24%.

Some experts suggest that Mexico's improved educational landscape, which has expanded secondary education to previously marginalized populations, may partially explain the higher curiosity levels among students. However, the country is still grappling with modern challenges that impact educational performance, such as shorter attention spans, excessive use of Artificial Intelligence, and a global teacher shortage.

Despite these issues, top-performing countries in PISA areas include China, Singapore, South Korea, Estonia, and Canada.