Israel's PISA Scores Plummet Amidst War, Critics Blame Government Neglect
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Israel's 10th graders achieved their lowest-ever scores on the PISA-2025 international tests, falling significantly below OECD averages. While the Education Minister cited the war as the primary cause, critics argue government neglect of public education is the real reason for the decline.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's PISA-2025 scores are its worst on record, falling below OECD averages.
- Education Minister Yoav Kisch blames the war for the significant decline in results.
- Critics argue government neglect and underfunding of public education are the true causes.
- Ukraine, despite facing a severe war, saw a much smaller drop in PISA scores.
- Analysis of the Education Minister's schedule shows minimal focus on PISA compared to other issues.
Israel has recorded its worst-ever performance in the PISA-2025 international assessments for 10th graders, falling significantly below the OECD average in mathematics, reading, and science, and ranking in the bottom quintile of developed nations. In digital learning, Israel placed 54th out of 85 countries, scoring 54 points below the OECD average, according to "Calcalist".
Education Minister Yoav Kisch attributed the decline primarily to the ongoing war, stating that the results demonstrate the "outstanding resilience" of the Israeli education system given the "almost year and a half of war, community evacuations, and serious disruptions to the educational process." The ministry emphasized that the PISA-2025 results reflect the learning environment during wartime.
However, researchers Rami Hod and Aviad Hominer-Rosenbaum of the Berl Katznelson Foundation compared Israel's performance to Ukraine's. Despite Ukraine facing a more extensive conflict and higher casualties, its average score decline was only 6 points, compared to Israel's 29-point drop. Specifically, Israel lost 23 points in science and 38 in reading, while Ukraine lost only 1 and 9 points respectively. In 2022, Israel had a 27-point lead over Ukraine; by 2025, this advantage had shrunk to 5 points.
Rami Hod criticized the government's explanation, calling it an "excuse" and a "harsh indictment" of authorities who have neglected public education. He argued that defunding the system and then being surprised by declining results is unacceptable.
An analysis of Kisch's schedule from 2023-2025 revealed only three meetings dedicated to PISA tests, while he held numerous meetings on ultra-Orthodox education and settlements in Judea and Samaria. The Minister's office dismissed this criticism as "populism," asserting that Kisch has conducted many professional meetings and initiatives aimed at improving student outcomes, including a STEM education program called "Realistic Israel."
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