Data Shows Students Worse at Reading Than They Were in 2003

The steepest drop came after 2018, and the data points at a specific reason.

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FEATURE STORY

One in five 15-year-olds across the 38 largely rich OECD nations now performs below basic standards in science, mathematics, and reading combined, according to the PISA 2025 Study. The data attributes part of the reading decline specifically to increased digitalization, longer screen time, and a measurable drop in reading for pleasure.

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