Israel plummets to worst-ever OECD education scores in math, reading, science
Israel's educational performance has reached its lowest point ever according to the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, with significant declines in math, reading, and science compared to previous assessments. The country ranks 43rd globally and 33rd among developed nations, marking a sharp drop from earlier rankings. Students' scores fell by an average of 29 points across all tested subjects, placing Israel second in the magnitude of decline after Latvia. The OECD average for these subjects remains higher than Israel's scores. The results also show lower performance by students in the Palestinian Authority. Political figures have criticized the education system, while Education Minister Yoav Kisch attributed the poor results to ongoing military conflicts affecting the country during the testing period.
Israel’s education system has suffered its worst-ever performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, with students scoring below average in math, reading, and science, according to the latest 2025 results released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The country’s overall ranking dropped to 43rd globally, marking a significant decline from its position of 38th in 2022 and 33rd among developed nations in 2022. This marks the lowest scores Israel has recorded since joining the PISA program in 2000. The PISA tests assess the academic abilities of 15-year-olds in reading, math, and science, and include an additional category for computational problem-solving. In the 2025 assessments, Israeli students scored 436 in reading, down from 474 in 2022; 442 in science, compared to 465 in 2022; 433 in math, versus 458 in 2022; and 444 in computational problem-solving. These scores fall significantly below the OECD averages of 461, 482, 463, and 500, respectively. Students in the Palestinian Authority also performed poorly, with scores of 359 in science, 350 in reading, 354 in math, and 393 in computational problem-solving. Israeli education officials attributed the decline to the ongoing conflicts affecting the country. Education Minister Yoav Kisch stated that the PISA tests were conducted amid active warfare, with Israel engaged in battles with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. He noted that the testing period coincided with evacuations in northern regions, military service obligations for teachers and parents, and frequent air raid alerts. Despite these challenges, Kisch praised the resilience of the education system and students, calling the results a demonstration of strength during difficult times. Kisch also cited a letter from OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher, which highlighted a general decline in student performance across many OECD countries over the past decade. Schleicher emphasized that the recent security situation should be considered when evaluating educational outcomes, acknowledging that the effects of conflict and uncertainty are hard to quantify. Political figures reacted sharply to the results. Yesh Atid MK Meirav Cohen criticized the education system and the leadership, stating the results were “a serious indictment against the education system and the person who heads it.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid supported Cohen’s critique, suggesting that the education system could be improved under his proposed ministerial candidate. The National Parents’ Leadership Association expressed disappointment, citing the cumulative impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent war sparked by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. They argued that students had lost continuity in learning, social interaction, and emotional stability, contributing to the poor performance. The report also revealed that the gap between high-achieving and low-achieving students remained largely unchanged in math and science, though it narrowed slightly in reading. Social disparities in Israel were noted as not fully explaining the dramatic drop in scores. The 2025 results marked a clear downward trend compared to earlier years, with a notable increase in the number of students performing below proficiency levels in all three subjects. The release of the PISA results followed delays and coordination issues within the Education Ministry, with officials attempting to manage the timing of the report’s public dissemination. Despite efforts to mitigate the impact, the findings underscored deep concerns about the state of Israeli education.
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Israeli students achieved their worst-ever results in the 2025 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, recording significant declines across all three subjects, science, reading, and mathematics, compared to the 2022 results. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Israel ranked 44th in science, 37th in reading, and 43rd in mathematics, placing it near the bottom among developed nations. The decline was notable even when compared to past PISA assessments from 2018, 2015, and 2012. Despite the poor performance, the report indicated that social disparities within Israel did not account for the drop, as the gap between high and low achievers remained stable or slightly narrowed in some areas.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data from the OECD's PISA results without overtly favoring any political perspective. It reports the decline in Israeli student performance objectively, citing specific rankings and comparisons with other countries. There is no evident ideological framing or biased word-
Why factuality (80): This article confirms the significant decline in Israel's PISA scores and includes details about the OECD ranking and comparative performance. It mentions the Education Ministry's description of the results as 'catastrophic,' which adds context but is presented as a direct quote.
Why objectivity (60): The language used is highly emotive, with phrases like 'catastrophic event on historic scale.' This indicates a strong negative sentiment, suggesting a more subjective interpretation of the data rather than a purely objective reporting.
Israel's educational performance has reached its lowest point ever according to the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, with significant declines in math, reading, and science compared to previous assessments. The country ranks 43rd globally and 33rd among developed nations, marking a sharp drop from earlier rankings. Students' scores fell by an average of 29 points across all tested subjects, placing Israel second in the magnitude of decline after Latvia. The OECD average for these subjects remains higher than Israel's scores. The results also show lower performance by students in the Palestinian Authority. Political figures have criticized the education system, while Education Minister Yoav Kisch attributed the poor results to ongoing military conflicts affecting the country during the testing period.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data from the OECD report and includes quotes from both critics and the Education Minister, providing balanced perspectives without overtly favoring one side. There is no clear ideological framing or biased language.
Why factuality (75): The article reports Israel's PISA scores declining significantly, aligning with the cross-source consensus. It provides specific numerical data and ranks, but does not mention the context of political reactions or comparisons with non-OECD countries like the Palestinian Authority, which may affect c
Why objectivity (65): The tone is somewhat negative, using phrases like 'plummets' and 'worst-ever,' which may reflect a critical perspective. While it presents facts neutrally, the choice of words suggests some level of concern or criticism.
i24NEWSIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 60
The article titled 'PISA, News And Latest Headlines' by i24NEWS appears to be a general listing or compilation of news stories related to the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and other current headlines. However, the content provided does not include specific details or individual articles, making it difficult to assess the exact focus or depth of the coverage. The title suggests a broad range of topics, but without further information, it is unclear which particular stories are highlighted.
Bias read (Center): The article's title references PISA, which is an international assessment program focused on education systems, and mentions 'news and latest headlines,' suggesting a general news roundup rather than a specific political angle. Since there is no detailed content provided, the framing cannot be fully
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (60): As the content is minimal, there is little evidence of bias or subjectivity. However, the lack of detail makes it challenging to evaluate objectivity accurately.
i24NEWSIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 60
The article reports that Israel has experienced a significant drop in student performance across mathematics, reading, and science based on recent PISA results. The findings indicate declining scores compared to previous assessments, raising concerns about educational quality and future competitiveness. The report highlights a trend of worsening academic outcomes, which could impact workforce readiness and national development. No specific data points or comparative benchmarks are provided within the text.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about declining PISA scores without overtly criticizing or praising the Israeli education system. It does not take a clear ideological stance, nor does it emphasize particular political narratives. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the statistical data
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (60): Again, due to the brevity of the content, there is little evidence of bias or subjectivity. However, the lack of detail makes it challenging to evaluate objectivity accurately.
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