Asian students outpace Western peers in reading, science and math in global rankings
By: Nana Karikari, Senior International Affairs and Political Analyst A striking educational divide now defines the global landscape. High-school students across Asia are pulling ahead of their Western peers, an annual global assessment indicates, as artificial intelligence spurs a worldwide race for talent and reshapes how young people learn. Secondary students in the United States […]
A global assessment reveals that high-school students in Asia are outperforming their Western counterparts in reading, science, and math, according to the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The report indicates a troubling decline in reading, science, and math performance among 15-year-olds globally, with the exception of students from Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Macao, and Taiwan.
The decline in US scores over the past decade has raised concerns among educationalists. The report warns that the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) could exacerbate cognitive challenges faced by students, as they struggle with evaluating information, making connections, and thinking critically. While digital tools have become more prevalent in classrooms, educators in China, Japan, and South Korea report lower levels of digital distraction during science lessons compared to the global average of 28%.
The report highlights that a decline in basic aptitude among US students could add over $40 trillion to the US economy over their working lives if performance meets the necessary level. However, the percentage of OECD students below this performance baseline has increased from 16% in 2022 to 20% in 2025, signaling urgent challenges for educational systems worldwide.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
