EU analysis: one in three 15‑year‑olds in the EU underperform on PISA
Analysis shows high shares of low performers in maths, reading and science and shrinking shares of top achievers across the EU.
An EU analysis of the latest PISA data finds that a large share of 15‑year‑olds in the European Union are underperforming in the three foundational domains of schooling. The report flags that 33.9 percent of pupils score below proficiency in mathematics, 31.3 percent fall short in reading, and 25.9 percent in science.
“The EU findings show that students are underperforming in all three key domains: 33.9 percent in mathematics, 31.3 percent in reading and 25.9 percent in science,” the Commission said, which published the results of the analysis today.
Worse shares at the top and growing shortfalls
The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results were published on 8 September. They show that roughly one in three pupils in the EU now scores insufficiently in either reading or mathematics, and about one in four does so in science. The proportion of top performers has fallen as well: only 4.8 percent reached top levels in reading, 6.4 percent in science and 6.8 percent in mathematics—far below the EU’s 2030 target of at least 12 percent in each area.
No EU member state met the 12 percent target in reading or science; only Estonia and Poland reached it in mathematics. The Commission warned that, at current rates, the bloc is moving away from its goal of cutting the share of low achievers to under 15 percent in each domain by 2030.
Performance in reading, mathematics and scientific literacy has declined markedly since 2015, and the EU continues to trail other advanced economies, the analysis says.
The report also highlights stark equity gaps: pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are about four times more likely to score poorly in science than advantaged peers, while advantaged pupils are roughly eight times more likely to rank among the highest achievers. The Commission pointed to causes including digital distraction, uncritical use of artificial intelligence, reduced parental engagement and persistent teacher shortages.
Photo: press material from the event
