Israeli Students' PISA Scores Plummet Amid War, Ministry Cites Disruption
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Israeli students' scores on the international PISA tests have significantly declined across reading, math, and science, with the Ministry of Education attributing the drop to wartime disruptions. The results show a substantial decrease compared to previous years and the OECD average, with nearly a third of students failing to meet basic proficiency.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli students' PISA scores dropped sharply in reading, math, and science.
- The Ministry of Education cited wartime disruptions as the primary cause for the decline.
- Nearly one-third of Israeli students failed to meet basic proficiency levels.
- Israel's score decline was significantly steeper than the OECD average.
- A widening gender gap was observed, with boys showing a particularly sharp drop in reading.
Israeli 15-year-old students have experienced a significant decline in their performance on the international PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests, with scores dropping across mathematics, science, and reading comprehension. The 2025 PISA results, released by the OECD, show Israel falling to 31st place among developed nations in reading and 33rd in math and science, a stark contrast to previous years. Nearly one-third of Israeli students failed to meet basic proficiency levels in any of the three subjects, a rate considerably higher than the OECD average.
Compared to the 2022 PISA cycle, Israel lost 38 points in reading, 25 in math, and 23 in science. The Ministry of Education attributed this "particularly anomalous" decline primarily to the ongoing war, which caused widespread disruption, including evacuations, school closures, and the mobilization of educators. The ministry noted that the testing occurred after nearly 1.5 years of conflict, with renewed hostilities in Gaza and ongoing security concerns in the north impacting the educational environment.
While OECD countries saw a modest average decline of 14 points in reading, 9 in math, and 3 in science between 2022 and 2025, Israel's drop was substantially steeper. The ministry highlighted that Israel was among four OECD countries experiencing a reading score decrease of 35 points or more. Furthermore, the percentage of Israeli students achieving high-level scores has shrunk, while the proportion failing to meet basic standards has grown.
The PISA results also revealed a widening gender gap, with girls outperforming boys in reading and science. Israeli boys, in particular, saw a sharp decline in reading scores, dropping approximately 46 points since 2022, compared to a 17-point average decrease among OECD boys. The Ministry of Education acknowledged the concerning results and pledged to use the data for improvement, while parent committees urged a national program to address learning gaps.
Prior to the 2025 testing, reports emerged of alleged attempts by the Ministry of Education to influence the PISA results through targeted school preparation, though these efforts did not prevent the sharp decline. Education Minister Yoav Kisch emphasized the resilience of the Israeli education system despite the war's challenges and stated the decision to test during wartime was to obtain a "real picture."
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