The problem is not only among Israelis – why schoolchildren are deteriorating

The 2025 PISA international study recorded a global decline in functional literacy among 15-year-olds. Deterioration in reading skills was noted in more than 40 countries. The share of functionally illiterate students in developed countries rose from 16% to 20%. Finland dropped to 17th place. In Israel, scores fell by 38 points in three years, with the share of underachievers reaching 41%. Experts link the crisis to gadgets and AI.

The published data from the 2025 PISA international study recorded an alarming trend: the level of functional literacy among 15-year-olds is rapidly declining worldwide, especially in OECD countries. Deterioration in reading and text comprehension skills was noted in more than forty countries, while only a few showed positive dynamics. The share of functionally illiterate students in developed countries has increased from 16% to 20% in recent years. Even recognized leaders of educational rankings show a serious decline. Finland's legendary education system dropped to 17th place, showing a record decline for Europe. An even more severe situation has developed in Israel, where scores plummeted by 38 points in just three years, and the share of underachieving teenagers reached 41%. The main suspects in the weakening of cognitive skills remain modern gadgets and artificial intelligence. Analysis shows that the best results are demonstrated by schools with moderate use of digital tools, while regular use of AI chatbots for completing assignments directly correlates with poorer knowledge. The report's authors call for a reconsideration of the concept of total digitalization of educational institutions. As a successful benchmark, experts highlight the experience of France and Singapore, where priority is given to literature and work with printed books.