Skopje, 9 September 2026 (MIA) - Unfortunately, the PISA results are once again very bad, but I want to highlight that these are the results of reforms made in the past. We came to power in 2024, while the tests were conducted only six months later, in 2025, said Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska after the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published on Tuesday the results of the PISA 2025 study.

According to the global study, which evaluates the problem-solving abilities of 15-year-old students and how well they can apply their knowledge in real-life situation, Macedonian students scored lower than the OECD average in all three areas – mathematics, reading, and science.

Macedonian students scored lower in mathematics compared to previous testing in 2022, while their scores in reading and science remain at roughly the same level.  

"Unfortunately, we had better results in reading and comprehension in 2001. We had the best results in 2018, which, according to teachers and the analysis, is the result of the Cambridge reform. The results of the reform that is underway right now will be visible when the current students turn 15, which means in around 9-10 years. Unfortunately, this is not only about programs. We will have to pay a lot more attention to the other elements that make up the educational system," Janevska said.

The results of PISA 2025 note a global drop in performances in reading and mathematics, with the use of artificial intelligence seen as a contributor to the decline. Asked how the system could deal with such an issue, the Minister said there are theses that technology has an impact on the global score, but she said the social situation in certain countries and the global situation have a significant impact as well.

"We still cannot claim that only artificial intelligence is seriously contributing to this. Perhaps this is more about social media, uncontrolled use of phones and tables. We will deal with this in a classical way, using what we've been constantly promoting: children must learn to write and read in the traditional way, develop their motor skills and their mind, and teachers should teach them how to use technology for critical thinking, critical analysis. That is why I mentioned there is not just one element that affects the results," Janevska said.

According to the results of the PISA 2025 testing, only 32 percent of Macedonian students scored above the baseline level of proficiency in mathematics, while the OECD average is 65. In science, around 36 percent of students scored above the baseline, with the OECD average being 74 percent. While in reading, 26 percent of students scored above the baseline, with the OECD average being 69 percent.

Some 1 percent of students in North Macedonia were top performers in mathematics, meaning that they attained Level 5 or 6 in the PISA mathematics test (OECD average: 8 percent). However, almost no students were top performers in science and reading, meaning attaining Level 5 or higher.

The report of the study shows that the gap between the highest-scoring students (10 percent with the highest scores) and the weakest students (10 percent with the lowest scores) widened in mathematics, reading and science over the period between 2022 and 2025.

In terms of the use of technology, 33 percent of students in North Macedonia reported that their peers are often distracted by the use of digital devices during most or all science lessons (OECD average: 28 percent). At the same time, 44 percent of students reported using AI chatbots to help them learn at least once a week (OECD average: 46 percent).  

The PISA 2025 assessment in North Macedonia was completed by 6.977 students in 124 schools, representing about 16.700 15-year-old students (an estimated 90 percent of the total population of 15-year-olds. 

Photo: MIA