Commission publishes EU analysis of the 2025 OECD PISA results

The EU findings show that students are underperforming in all three core areas: 33.9% in maths, 31.3% in reading and 25.9% in science. This means the EU is moving even further away from its 2030 target of reducing low achievement to below 15% in each subject. Excellence is also declining. In 2025, the share of top-performing students in the EU is 4.8% in reading, 6.4% in science and 6.8% in maths, well below the EU's 2030 target of at least 12% in each subject. No EU country meets its target in reading or science, and only two EU countries meet it in maths. The analysis also highlights major equity challenges. Disadvantaged students are around four times more likely to underperform in science than advantaged students, while advantaged students are around eight times more likely to be top performers. The analysis comes at a timely moment, ahead of this year's Education Package, through which the Commission intends to propose measures to support Member States in reversing this trend and adapting education to the demands of the future in the age of artificial intelligence. Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu said: 'On International Teachers' Day, we celebrate the trust that teachers build and the curiosity they inspire. They deserve the time, training and resources to do this vital work. Our upcoming Education Package will help countries support teachers, strengthen basic skills and prepare education for the AI era. Every young person should leave school with the skills and confidence to shape their own future.' The Commission has proposed several measures during this mandate, including the Basic Skills Action Plan, the STEM Education Strategic Plan, the European Literacy Coalition and the EU-OECD AI Literacy Framework for primary and secondary education. The EU policy brief on PISA 2025 is available online.