The average international mathematics score has decreased by 15 points compared to the 2018 tests, equivalent to a decline of three-quarters of a year of learning.
The average international mathematics score has decreased by 15 points compared to the 2018 tests, equivalent to a decline of three-quarters of a year of learning.
The Programme for International Student Assessment survey, released on Dec. 5, has shed light on an “unprecedented” decline in academic progress in numerous countries. The global education survey, the first conducted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the significant setbacks experienced by students.
The average international mathematics score has decreased by 15 points compared to the 2018 tests, equivalent to a decline of three-quarters of a year of learning. In reading, the drop is equivalent to half a year, while science scores have more or less remained the same.
Twenty points are considered equivalent to a year of learning.
PISA is conducted every three years by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The assessment evaluates the knowledge of 15-year-old students in mathematics, reading, and science across 81 countries and regions.
“The PISA 2022 results show a fall in student performance that is unprecedented in [the survey’s] history,” stated Irene Hu, an education analyst at the OECD. The regular survey schedule was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the overall results from 2022 reveal the changes since the previous tests in 2018, causing concern among officials across both affluent and less affluent nations.
The test was administered to a sample of 15-year-olds in 37 OECD member countries along with 44 other partner nations in 2022. The OECD has been conducting this test since the year 2000.
Decline in the US
In the United States, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona expressed concern over the country’s persistently low math scores. This is despite President Joe Biden’s substantial investments in education, which included $190 billion in pandemic relief allocated by the US Congress to schools.
Cardona emphasized the need for continued efforts, stating, “We cannot be complacent at home, not when math is critical to our global competitiveness and leadership.”
European downturn
European countries, including Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland, experienced a particularly significant decline in academic achievements in mathematics, according to the report.
In several nations, the average 15-year-old in 2022 scored at a level expected of a 14-year-old in 2018, indicating a notable regression in performance.
Germany and France ranked lower among European countries, with German students exhibiting their worst performance in reading, math, and science, marking a concerning decline, as noted by OECD education analyst Eric Charbonnier.
Several nations, including Germany, Iceland, and the Netherlands, experienced declines of 25 points or more in math scores.
OECD analysts insights
While a portion of the decline is attributed to school closures and disruptions caused by COVID-19, the report underscores that “long-term issues in education systems are also to blame for the drop in performance.”
The analysts from OECD underscored that the problem is systemic, stating, “It is not just about Covid.” Hu highlighted a key factor contributing to the decline as “the level of support pupils received from teachers and school staff.”
Charbonnier acknowledged that although countries have made investments in education over the past decade, there may have been inefficiencies or insufficient focus on the quality of teaching.
Andreas Schleicher, the Director of Education and Skills at OECD, stressed the importance of learning from the report, pointing out that underlying structural factors in education systems are likely to be enduring aspects that policymakers need to address seriously.
Remarkable performance in Asia
Asian students showcased remarkable performance, with many surpassing their global counterparts and demonstrating advancement equivalent to several years.
Singapore secured the top ranking in the latest assessment, indicating that, on average, Singaporean students are nearly three to five years ahead of their peers. Additionally, five other
Asian education systems—Macao, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea—followed in mathematics and achieved high scores in reading and science.
Importance of mental health
For the inaugural time, the survey incorporated an examination of students’ mental well-being, utilizing nine aspects of their lives to gauge their overall state, revealing a correlation between academic performance and anxiety.
In high-performing countries, many students reported high levels of fear of failure and limited engagement in extracurricular activities like sports. Conversely, in lower-performing countries, students were more involved in physical and team activities, leading to lower anxiety levels and a greater emphasis on sports.
The indicators encompassed engagement with school, material and cultural well-being, openness to diversity, and psychological well-being.
