Student performance declines globally

Students aged 15 from over 91 countries or economies scored lower in mathematics and reading than ever before in a major triennial survey. The results showed a 28-point drop in reading comprehension and a 22-point decline in math scores between 2015 and 2025, which is equivalent to about one and a half years of lost learning in reading and just over one year in math.

Science scores show slight improvement

Unlike mathematics and reading, science scores showed signs of stabilizing after years of decline. However, the overall trend remains concerning, as one in five students now fails to meet the basic level in at least one of the three subjects, up from one in six in 2022.

Education methods face scrutiny

The article questions whether traditional teaching methods, such as emphasizing grammar rules and analysis of classic texts, are still relevant. It raises concerns about how to adapt education to a world where artificial intelligence can generate essays, create images, and solve complex math problems in seconds.

AI challenges traditional learning

The article also wonders if subjects like reading, math, and science can be taught in the same way as they were in the past, given the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. It suggests that some may question the need to teach students grammar rules and mathematical theorems when machines can perform these tasks more efficiently.