Israeli students have recorded significant declines in reading, mathematics, and science, as shown by the recent 2025 PISA results. Israel’s scores fell sharply, with declines of 38 points in reading, 25 in mathematics, and 23 in science, positioning the country at 31st out of 38 in reading and 33rd in both mathematics and science.
The assessment results, released by the OECD, found that Israeli students averaged 442 points in science, below the OECD average of 482, 433 in mathematics against an average of 463, and 436 in reading compared to 461. The downward trend in Israeli education stands out against a minor decline in average OECD scores in the same subjects.
The Israeli Education Ministry acknowledged this decline as “particularly exceptional,” emphasizing that it occurred under extraordinary conditions, including ongoing military conflict and disruptions to schooling during the assessment period. Officials attributed the sharp declines to the impact of war and other significant interruptions in education over the past few years.
The analysis highlights a concerning figure: nearly 29% of Israeli students did not achieve basic proficiency in reading, mathematics, and science, compared to an OECD average of 19.7%. Additionally, a significant gender gap persists, with girls outperforming boys in reading and science.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch defended these results, framing them as indicative of the resilience of the Israeli educational system during wartime. Nevertheless, parents and educational advocates expressed concern that these results reflect a deeper issue within the system and called for immediate action to address the students’ academic challenges.
