Edward DP Situmorang
PARIS – The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently unveiled the shocking results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025. Scores in reading comprehension and mathematics for 15-year-old students in France have plunged sharply, reaching their lowest point since 2000. This phenomenon is not isolated to France but reflects a concerning global trend.
This decline in academic performance indicates serious challenges within the education systems of many nations. Since the 2022 PISA edition, a downward trend had begun to appear, and PISA 2025 confirms that this condition has worsened significantly.
Data released by the OECD highlights that students in France, in particular, show scores never this low in the past two decades. A similar situation is observed in many other OECD member countries that participated in this assessment program.
The decline encompasses two crucial areas: reading comprehension and mathematical competency. Both fields are vital foundations for students cognitive development and future academic success.
Education experts suspect various factors contribute to this PISA score decline. The global pandemic in previous years is strongly suspected to be a primary trigger for the prolonged education crisis, disrupting teaching and learning processes worldwide.
- Less effective remote learning.
- Significant disparities in technology access.
- Psychological pressure affecting student concentration and motivation.
The suboptimal learning environment during that period is now yielding its results, creating a generation of learners with diminished foundational skills.
Furthermore, some parties also highlight the role of increased social media use and digital devices among adolescents. The decline in French students, for instance, was once highlighted in relation to the influence of social media potentially eroding learning focus and effective time for education.
The French government, through the Ministry of National Education, has expressed deep concern over these results. Various curriculum reform measures and teacher quality improvements are being considered to address the issue systematically.
Globally, these PISA 2025 results serve as a stern warning to education policymakers. It is essential for every country to evaluate their learning strategies and ensure appropriate investments for the future of the younger generation, especially in facing the challenges of the digital era.
As suggested by economists, urging presidential candidates to prioritize proven learning strategies becomes increasingly relevant in addressing these educational challenges, aiming to build a strong foundation for national development.
Editorial Insight: The plummeting PISA 2025 scores are not merely statistics but a crucial reflection of deep-seated challenges within the global education system. This phenomenon demands a holistic response, not only from governments but also from society, parents, and educational institutions. Addressing the root causes, from the pandemic's impact to digital era distractions, is key to preventing further erosion of future generations' potential. Failure to seriously address this situation could create a wide competency gap, hindering social and economic progress in the long term.
