Maths, reading and science skills among young people fall again in global assessment
A decline in maths, science and reading skills among school pupils worldwide seen after the Covid-19 pandemic has continued, according to new figures. Warnings of a “particularly concerning” fall in young people’s reading abilities, described as being particularly important in a digital world, come in a new report detailing the latest Programme for International Assessment (Pisa) test results.…
A recent global assessment reveals that math, reading, and science skills among young people have continued to decline after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new figures from the Programme for International Assessment (Pisa) test. Andreas Schleicher, director for education and skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which administers the Pisa tests, expressed particular concern over the decline in reading abilities, emphasising their importance in the digital age.
The share of "hasty readers" – students who quickly answer questions but often incorrectly – nearly doubled between 2018 and 2025. Despite this, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) showed improvements in these skills, ranking at the top within the Arab world. Pisa tests, administered every three years, assess 15-year-olds, and the latest results are based on the performance of over 750,000 students in 91 countries in 2025.
While the UAE led the Arab world, it still trailed behind the OECD average. The OECD reported a decline in math, reading, and science scores, all falling below the baseline set in 2001. East and South-East Asian nations, including China's Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, Singapore, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, and South Korea, consistently performed at the top.
The UAE's average scores improved significantly, with a 21-point increase in math, a 15-point rise in reading, and a 26-point gain in science. Private schools in Dubai were among the world's top 10 in all assessed areas, according to a statement from the Government of Dubai.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
