Worrisome results in the 2025 PISA tests
Romanian students have grabbed subpar results in the PISA examination tests.
Leyla Cheamil, 09.09.2026, 13:50
The 2025 PISA test results published on Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development mark Romania’s weakest performance in recent years, signaling a broad decline in student competencies. Roughly 760,000 students worldwide took part in the assessment, including 7,725 students from 322 schools across Romania.
According to the evaluation, 52% of 15-year-old Romanian students fall below baseline proficiency in mathematics, while 48% fail to reach baseline levels in reading. Additionally, 57% perform below baseline when solving problems with digital tools. Overall, Romanian students scored below the OECD average in science, mathematics, reading and computational problem-solving.
The Ministry of Education and Research points out that, as a country currently seeking OECD membership, Romania must view these results through the lens of its development level and the gap it needs to close. Romania’s Gross Domestic Product per capita stands at around 71% of the OECD average, and only 19% of adults aged 25 to 64 hold a university degree, compared to the member state average of 41%.
Against this backdrop, President Nicușor Dan said that public policies must urgently prioritize identifying and supporting students at educational risk early on.
“The results of the 2025 PISA study are a major wake-up call that we cannot afford to ignore, regardless of the political or economic context. The future of Romania depends on the education we provide to our children today, and the perspective offered by the PISA study is deeply alarming”, the head of state pointed out in a statement.
The President further noted that it is tragic to see the potential of young Romanians go unrealized. “There are severe inequalities between schools regarding the quality of education provided, and significant learning gaps persist between students from different socio-economic backgrounds”, president Dan highlighted.
According to the head of state, key measures must include rolling out a nationwide data-driven assessment system, curbing school dropout rates and reinforcing fundamental skills in reading, mathematics and science. Additional priorities should focus on the responsible use of technology and artificial intelligence, alongside guaranteeing quality learning environments for all children, regardless of background.
“Obviously, these measures cannot be put into practice without significant budget allocations. Romania must invest more, more consistently and more intelligently in education”, President Nicușor Dan concluded. (VP)
