Israel Sees Unprecedented Drop in Student Scores on International Exams

Student performance in Israel has seen a significant and unprecedented decline in reading, mathematics, and science, according to the 2025 PISA results released by the OECD. Compared to the 2022 exams, Israeli students' reading scores dropped by 38 points, mathematics by 25 points, and science by 23 points. These declines are steeper than the OECD averages of 14, 9, and 3 points respectively. The data reveals that 46% of Israeli students did not reach the baseline proficiency in mathematics, 41% in reading, and 40% in science. The percentage of top-performing students in reading fell from 11% to 5%.

The drop in Israel is among the sharpest recorded in any OECD country since the study began, particularly in reading, where Hebrew-speaking students in the state system saw a 52-point decrease. The National Authority for Measurement and Evaluation (RAMA) noted that only four instances, including Israel, have seen declines of 35 points or more in reading scores between study cycles since 2000.

Furthermore, a high percentage of school principals report that nearly half of students' learning was negatively impacted by unqualified teachers. Israel ranks third in the OECD for the proportion of teachers not trained in the subjects they teach. The PISA 2025 tests, which involved over 760,000 students from 91 countries, were conducted in March and April 2025, during a period of ongoing conflict for Israel.

The Ministry of Education attributed the sharp decline to the effects of the Swords of Iron War. The ministry stated that the results reflect learning during wartime, with students tested after nearly a year and a half of fighting, displacement, disrupted schooling, and teacher mobilization. Despite the declines, the ministry highlighted that Israel maintained its relative international standing compared to 2018, losing minimal ground in reading and science, and only one position in mathematics.

In response to these trends, the Ministry of Education initiated programs like 'Growing Anew' to strengthen foundational skills and is expanding support to middle schools. A separate plan, 'Realistic Israel,' was introduced in December 2024 following a similar decline in real-world subjects observed in the TIMSS 2023 study, aiming to bolster mathematics, science, and STEM education.