OECD alarms: student preparation at historic lows, but Italians better at reading
The OECD's PISA 2025 report highlights declining international student performance in science, reading, and mathematics, with results reaching historic lows. Italy, however, performs above the OECD average in all three areas, scoring 474 in reading (vs. 461 internationally), 468 in math (vs. 463), and 483 in science (vs. 482). The Italian education system has improved significantly in science since 2022. Minister Giuseppe Valditara credits the system’s resilience, noting Italy surpasses countries like Finland in reading and outperforms France, Germany, the U.S., and Sweden in math. While Asian systems like China, Singapore, and South Korea lead globally, European nations such as Estonia, the UK, Finland, and Ireland also exceed the OECD average. The report attributes declining performance to increased screen time, reduced interest in reading, and changes in student-school relationships post-pandemic. It notes rising 'hasty reading' rates and frequent AI chatbot use among students.
Italian schools remain standing, according to data from the OECD-PISA 2025 report, which shows Italian students performing above the international average in reading, mathematics, and science. Minister of Education and Merit Giuseppe Valditara emphasized this point, highlighting Italy's robust educational system amid widespread global decline. However, challenges persist, including high absenteeism, low sense of belonging among students, and structural weaknesses in digital skills. In reading, Italian students scored 474 points compared to the OECD average of 461. In mathematics, they achieved 468 points against the OECD average of 463. In science, the primary focus of the 2025 assessment, Italian students reached 483 points, just above the OECD average of 482. This marks the first time Italy has significantly surpassed the international average, with Valditara noting that the Italian score exceeds that of Finland, long considered a leading international reference in education. The comparison with other major countries shows Italian students outperforming their French and German counterparts in reading. In mathematics, Italian students achieve better results than France, Germany, the United States, and Sweden. The Ministry of Education highlights improvements in the proportion of students reaching at least the baseline level and a reduction in regional disparities. Valditara noted that despite a complex context marked by concerning declines in several countries, the Italian school system has addressed its shortcomings and reduced historical gaps between North and South. Despite these positive results, long-term issues remain. In mathematics, Italy had previously lost ground, while a decade-long decline in reading indicated structural difficulties. Few students reach excellence levels, and approximately one in four students feels alienated or excluded from their school. About 63 percent of students reported at least one absence in the two weeks before the OECD-PISA test. New challenges involve the relationship with digital technology. Competencies in computational problem-solving remain below the OECD average, and both students and school administrators report deficiencies in the quality and availability of tools. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence has already become part of study habits: half of the students use chatbots at least once a week, 39 percent use them for research, and about one-third use them for summaries. Valditara stated that efforts will continue to strengthen measures supporting teachers and students. The OECD report indicates that the preparation of students in OECD countries has reached historic lows in science, reading, and mathematics. One in five students in OECD countries lacks sufficient proficiency in these subjects, up from 16 percent in 2022. The PISA 2025 survey was the largest ever conducted, involving 760,000 students across 91 countries and economies. Italian students perform above the OECD average in all three areas assessed. They scored 474 points in reading, surpassing the international average of 461. In mathematics, they achieved 468 points, exceeding the OECD average of 463. In science, the main focus of the 2025 edition, Italian students reached 483 points, improving upon their 2022 scores. According to Valditara, the data show the solidity of the Italian school system. He noted that the country's performance in reading is higher than that of Finland, long regarded as a key international benchmark in this area. In mathematics, Italy performs better than France, Germany, the United States, and Sweden. The PISA survey also notes a reduction in the gap between northern and southern regions. Valditara stated that the Italian school system has demonstrated resilience by addressing critical issues and reducing historical regional disparities. Internationally, Asian systems lead in science and mathematics, with Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang at the top, while Singapore leads in reading. Other top performers include Macao, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. In Europe, Estonia, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Ireland exceed the OECD average. Possible factors behind the decline include increased screen usage, declining interest in reading among young people, and changes in the relationship with school following the pandemic. The survey also highlights the impact of artificial intelligence, with 46 percent of students in OECD countries using chatbots at least once a week to aid learning. Additionally, nearly double the number of students engage in "rushed reading," defined as quick but inaccurate reading, rising from 9 percent in 2025 compared to 2018. The OECD describes the overall picture as bleak but emphasizes that progress made by some systems demonstrates that reversing the trend is still possible.
3 reports
Il GiornaleParty-alignedCenterFactual 88Objective 789/8/2026
The Italian education system has shown improvement according to the OECD-PISA 2025 results, with students scoring above the international average in reading, mathematics, and science. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara highlighted these achievements, noting that Italy now outperforms countries like Finland, France, Germany, the United States, and Sweden. However, the report also points to ongoing challenges such as high absenteeism, low sense of belonging among students, and structural weaknesses in digital skills. While there has been progress in reducing regional disparities, long-term trends show persistent issues, particularly in mathematics where performance declined over the past decade. The report acknowledges growing use of artificial intelligence in study habits but highlights gaps in digital competence and access to quality tools.
Bias read (Center): While the article emphasizes positive developments in Italian education and frames them as national successes, it also presents critical data on systemic weaknesses and long-term declines. The tone remains balanced by acknowledging both achievements and ongoing challenges without overtly promoting a
Why factuality (88): This article accurately reflects the OECD PISA 2025 results, including specific score comparisons between Italy and other countries. It cites the ministry’s statements and provides consistent data points about Italy's performance in reading, math, and science. The information matches the cross-sourc
Why objectivity (78): While the article is generally objective, it leans slightly towards highlighting the positives of Italy's performance, especially when quoting Minister Valditara. It briefly mentions ongoing challenges but does so in a way that doesn't overshadow the main narrative of improvement.
La StampaIndependent🔒CenterFactual 85Objective 759/8/2026
The OECD's PISA 2025 report highlights declining international student performance in science, reading, and mathematics, with results reaching historic lows. Italy, however, performs above the OECD average in all three areas, scoring 474 in reading (vs. 461 internationally), 468 in math (vs. 463), and 483 in science (vs. 482). The Italian education system has improved significantly in science since 2022. Minister Giuseppe Valditara credits the system’s resilience, noting Italy surpasses countries like Finland in reading and outperforms France, Germany, the U.S., and Sweden in math. While Asian systems like China, Singapore, and South Korea lead globally, European nations such as Estonia, the UK, Finland, and Ireland also exceed the OECD average. The report attributes declining performance to increased screen time, reduced interest in reading, and changes in student-school relationships post-pandemic. It notes rising 'hasty reading' rates and frequent AI chatbot use among students.
Bias read (Center): While the article presents data showing Italy's strong performance relative to other OECD countries, it does not overtly favor any political ideology. The framing remains balanced, citing both global trends and national achievements without promoting a specific political agenda. The focus is on data
Why factuality (85): The article reports on the OECD PISA 2025 results as presented by the Italian Ministry of Education, citing specific scores for Italy compared to the international average. It mentions improvements in science and places Italy above the OECD average in reading, math, and science. The data aligns with
Why objectivity (75): The article presents the findings in a positive light, emphasizing Italy's strong position relative to the OECD average. While it acknowledges challenges such as declining skills in reading and digital literacy, the overall tone is more celebratory of Italy's achievements rather than balanced.
The article reports on the OECD's PISA 2025 results, highlighting a decline in students' preparation levels across OECD countries, with the lowest scores ever recorded in mathematics and reading. It notes that one in five 15-year-olds in OECD nations has insufficient skills in science, math, and reading, up from 16% in 2022. The Italian Ministry of Education claims that Italian students perform above the OECD average in reading, scoring 474 points compared to the OECD average of 461, surpassing Finland, a traditional benchmark. In mathematics, Italy scores 468 points, slightly above the OECD average of 463, and outperforms France, Germany, the U.S., and Sweden. The ministry emphasizes that these results reflect a stable and strong education system.
Bias read (Center): While the article presents data showing a general decline in student performance across OECD countries, it also highlights specific areas where Italian students exceed the OECD average. The framing appears balanced by presenting both the overall trend and positive outcomes for Italy. There is no明显的左
Why factuality (82): The article accurately summarizes the OECD PISA 2025 findings, noting the decline in student preparation across OECD countries and Italy's performance relative to the average. It includes specific score figures and references to the ministry's interpretation of the data, which aligns with the cross-
Why objectivity (70): The tone of this article is more critical, emphasizing the broader international decline while still acknowledging Italy's relatively strong performance. However, it appears to downplay the severity of the global trend, potentially giving an incomplete picture of the situation.
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