Feijóo promises to reform the educational system "without ideologies" after PISA report confirms the "absolute suspension" of Sánchez

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of Spain's Popular Party (PP), has pledged to overhaul the education system "without ideologies," following the OECD's PISA 2025 report, which highlights a decline in Spanish students' performance compared to European and OECD averages. Feijóo criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for what he described as a "total failure" of the current educational legislation, citing the report as evidence of systemic issues under the government. He emphasized the need for reforms based on evidence rather than ideology, focusing on evaluating student learning effectively and restoring authority in classrooms. The latest PISA results show a marked drop in performance among students in third and fourth years of secondary school, particularly in science, mathematics, and reading comprehension. Feijóo attributed this decline to what he called a "systemic failure" within the current administration, extending beyond education to include areas such as medical strikes, high-speed rail projects, housing, power outages, territorial integrity, and other challenges. He proposed replacing the so-called "Celaá Law," enacted in January 2021, which introduced changes from the previous 2013 LOMCE law, including more flexible progression through grades and a focus on developing skills over content memorization. Feijóo visited an educational institution at the start of the academic year, expressing concern as both a parent and a public servant over the warnings issued by the PP regarding the negative effects of Sánchez's policies. He stressed that the goal was not merely to be right but to ensure that children gain more knowledge and are better prepared for the future. The PISA report also noted that Spanish students use artificial intelligence more frequently for their schoolwork than students in other countries analyzed. Feijóo reiterated his stance against individual screens in classrooms, at least until secondary level, emphasizing that while digitalization can improve education when properly managed, excessive screen time at young ages can hinder attention, concentration, and essential habits. Santiago Abascal, leader of the Vox party, also criticized the government, stating that the country had been "destroyed and looted" by a "traitor and his corrupt mafia." He pointed out that the government had failed in multiple areas, ranging from housing access and education quality to street safety and infrastructure conditions. According to the PISA report, there has been a significant decline in performance in mathematics, science, and reading compared to the 2022 edition, continuing a downward trend observed over the past decade. This overall decline positions Spanish students below the European and OECD averages, with a gap even greater than previously recorded. The evaluation, involving 760,000 students aged 15 from 91 countries, confirmed the worst educational outcome in Spain’s history, potentially reigniting political tensions over responsibility for the situation. Sources from the PP's headquarters, Génova, attribute the entire blame to the government for its "poor" educational reform, known as the Celaá Law, which came into effect in 2021. They highlighted that the international assessment coincided with the first cohort of students under the new LOMLOE curriculum. The PP criticized the two ministers who have held the Education portfolio since 2022, accusing them of prioritizing political defense over educational improvement. The PP also did not mention how its autonomous communities have implemented the educational law. The PISA test typically evaluates the competencies of students in reading, mathematics, and sciences across 91 countries. It will likely intensify political tensions again, as anticipated by the PP's criticism of the two ministers who have held the Education portfolio since 2022. The PP accused them of being more focused on defending the government than improving education. The PP also warned about Catalonia's attempts to hide its educational failures, noting that more than 23 percent of students were excluded from the test in Catalan schools, four times higher than the OECD allows to maintain representativeness.