The Conseil d'analyse économique (CAE), a French economic advisory body, has raised concerns that the poor performance of French students in the latest PISA survey could result in a significant loss to the country’s GDP—up to 150 billion euros by 2050. Xavier Jaravel, deputy president of the CAE, highlighted that the decline in educational performance shown in the PISA 2025 evaluation could have long-term economic consequences, including higher youth unemployment and reduced productivity across the workforce. The PISA survey, a global assessment of education quality, tests the skills of 15-year-old students from 91 countries, and recent results show a marked decline in the performance of French students compared to previous years. Jaravel explained that the economic risks are primarily due to two factors: first, the difficulty young people face in entering the job market, which could increase unemployment rates; and second, the lower productivity of those who do find work, which could slow economic growth. To address these issues, the CAE has urged the government to protect the budget of the Ministry of Education and invest in key areas such as teacher training, better teaching resources, and additional support for students who are struggling academically. This call to action follows a report published by the CAE in September 2025, which outlined an action plan to tackle France’s educational challenges. The proposed plan, estimated to cost around four billion euros annually, aims to improve the quality of education and close the gap with other countries. The CAE suggests that this funding could be sourced from the financial margins created by demographic changes, such as the declining population and the decreasing number of students in schools. The CAE’s warnings highlight the growing concern over the link between education quality and economic performance. As France faces the challenge of maintaining its competitiveness in a globalized economy, the need for sustained investment in education has become increasingly urgent. The proposed measures aim to ensure that future generations are better equipped to meet the demands of the labor market and contribute effectively to the country’s economic development.