The results of the 2025 PISA tests have confirmed a suspicion that many teachers had held for quite some time: there is a continuous, global decline in teenagers' ability to read and solve mathematical problems. Although science learning remained stable between 2022 and 2025, the setback in reading and mathematics is not confined to a single region, but rather constitutes a deeply unequal global trend. While developed nations, led by East Asian education systems, continue to maintain the highest performance levels, developing regions, with Latin America among the most lagging, show clear signs of stagnation or decline. The consequence is evident: the gap between the highest and lowest performing countries in reading and mathematics proficiency remains substantial. ​This is not merely a concern for experts, but a widespread anxiety shared across society. An international survey conducted by the research firm Ipsos across thirty countries revealed that nearly half of respondents ...