Israeli Students Score Among Lowest in OECD on Key Literacy and Math Tests

A recent OECD survey reveals that Israeli students rank near the bottom among developed countries in literacy and mathematics skills. The data, published in late 2024 and analyzed by The Economist, shows that about 20% of Israeli students scored at the lowest proficiency level in mathematics, a rate second only to Italy within the OECD. In literacy, 14% of Israeli students fell into the lowest category, surpassed only by Poland. These proficiency levels correspond to skills expected of a 10-year-old in a developed country.

The OECD's Skills Survey, conducted once every decade, assessed around 160,000 adults under 35 currently enrolled in higher education institutions, including universities and colleges. The tests measured practical reading and math abilities necessary for everyday tasks, such as understanding medication instructions or calculating wallpaper needed for a room. Across all OECD countries, roughly 8% of students scored at the lowest level in both literacy and math, but Israel's rates are significantly higher.

Comparative data highlights the gap: Estonia has less than 2% of students at the lowest proficiency level, and the UK has improved over time, outperforming the OECD average. Experts attribute Israel's poor results to multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption of schooling, declining reading habits, changes in curricula, and increased immigration. The pandemic caused prolonged school closures and learning interruptions, but the decline in skills began before COVID-19, as evidenced by falling PISA scores in several countries.

The article also notes concerns from university lecturers in the US about incoming students' preparedness, a trend reflected globally. Additionally, the rise of artificial intelligence tools poses challenges for maintaining academic standards, with the article warning against lowering basic requirements in hopes that AI will compensate for skill gaps.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Yoav Kisch have recently visited schools, underscoring the government's awareness of educational challenges. The findings suggest urgent need for policy responses to improve foundational skills among Israeli students to meet developed world standards.