Israeli Students Score Among Lowest in OECD Math and Reading Tests

Recent data from the OECD's once-a-decade adult skills survey reveal that Israeli students rank near the bottom among developed countries in literacy and mathematics. Approximately 20% of Israeli students scored at the lowest proficiency level in mathematics, a level expected of a 10-year-old in a developed country, while 14% scored similarly low in reading. These figures are significantly worse than the OECD average of about 8% for both subjects. Only Italy and Poland performed worse than Israel in these categories.

The OECD survey, published at the end of 2024 and analyzed by The Economist, included around 160,000 participants worldwide, focusing on students under 35 currently enrolled in higher education institutions. The tests assessed practical skills such as understanding medication instructions and calculating wallpaper needed for a room. Compared to the previous survey over a decade ago, the proportion of students with the lowest literacy skills in Israel more than doubled.

The decline in Israeli students' skills is attributed to multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption of schooling, the rise of artificial intelligence, and a decrease in reading habits. The pandemic caused prolonged school closures and ongoing interruptions, but the downward trend began before COVID-19, with similar declines noted in countries like France, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. The article highlights a broader global issue of declining literacy and numeracy among adults, linked to reduced engagement with complex texts.

Israeli universities face challenges not only from incoming students' knowledge gaps but also from maintaining academic standards amid increasing AI use. The article warns against lowering academic requirements under the assumption that AI tools will compensate for students' deficiencies, calling this approach a surrender rather than a solution.

Key comparisons show Estonia with less than 2% of students at the lowest proficiency level, and the UK improving over time. Israel's results starkly contrast with these countries, underscoring the severity of its educational challenges.

Summary: Israeli higher education students rank among the lowest in OECD countries in math and reading proficiency, with 20% and 14% respectively at the lowest skill levels. The decline is linked to COVID-19 disruptions, AI influence, and reduced reading, posing significant challenges for universities.

Points: - 20% of Israeli students scored at the lowest math proficiency level, compared to 8% OECD average. - 14% scored at the lowest reading proficiency level, second worst after Poland. - Only Italy and Poland performed worse than Israel in these OECD tests. - Decline attributed to COVID-19 school closures, AI rise, and decreased reading habits. - Israeli universities struggle with students' low skills and maintaining academic standards amid AI use. - Similar literacy declines noted globally, but Israel's rates are particularly high.

Topic: education

Entities: {"people":["Benjamin Netanyahu","Yoav Kisch"],"organizations":["OECD","The Economist"],"places":["Israel","Italy","Poland","Estonia","United Kingdom","France","Germany","Netherlands","New Zealand","United States"]}