European Education Powerhouses Hit by Falling Pisa Scores 2026

The European education powerhouses of France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland are reeling from unprecedented declines in the 2025 Pisa scores, which assess how effectively 15-year-olds apply school-learned knowledge and skills in reading, mathematics, and science to real-life situations. These results have rocked some of western Europe's most esteemed school systems. While the UK bucked the trend, results on the continent continued a slide that began in 2018. In these four countries, the proportion of 15-year-olds lacking basic functional literacy and maths skills rose to nearly one in three.

What the 2025 Pisa Scores Reveal

The 2025 Pisa scores paint a stark picture: France's results were its worst ever. Germany's, too. In the Netherlands, results also tumbled to all-time lows. Even in Finland, Europe's much-vaunted schools champion and a global leader for decades, scores plummeted. Pandemic learning losses accelerated the drop, but education experts say the roots of the problem run much deeper: chronic teacher shortages, repeated curriculum reforms that have neglected basic skills, and widening inequalities within increasingly segregated systems.

Key Factors Behind the Decline

Compounding these issues, incessant smartphone use has dramatically reduced attention spans, replacing “deep reading” with scrolling, and pupil motivation has collapsed. Pupils in Germany got their worst-ever Pisa report card, reviving a decades-old debate about the country's weaknesses in schools, integration, and closing the wealth gap. Samuel Greiff, the German Pisa study coordinator, noted an alarming rise in youngsters who lack basic skills.

Teacher Shortages and Curriculum Reforms

Chronic teacher shortages have left classrooms overcrowded and under-resourced. Repeated curriculum reforms have often neglected foundational skills, focusing instead on trendy pedagogical approaches that fail to deliver results. Widening inequalities within increasingly segregated systems mean that disadvantaged students are falling further behind.

The Smartphone Factor

Incessant smartphone use has dramatically reduced attention spans, replacing “deep reading” with scrolling. This shift has contributed to a collapse in pupil motivation, making it harder for students to engage with complex texts and problem-solving tasks.

Comparing Pisa Performance: 2018 vs. 2025

Note: Scores are approximate based on available data.

Key Takeaways

• France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland saw record drops in 2025 Pisa scores.
• Nearly one in three 15-year-olds in these countries lack basic literacy and maths skills.
• Pandemic learning losses accelerated the decline, but deeper issues include teacher shortages, curriculum reforms, and smartphone use.
• The UK bucked the trend, maintaining stable scores.
• Experts call for urgent reforms to address attention spans, motivation, and inequality.

What Can Be Done?

Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach. Investing in teacher recruitment and training, revising curricula to emphasize basic skills, and implementing policies to reduce smartphone distractions in schools are critical steps. Additionally, targeted support for disadvantaged students can help narrow the widening achievement gap.

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