The global education landscape is facing a significant challenge, with declining test scores and reduced family engagement in many high-income countries. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, released in 2026, reveal a troubling trend: average scores in math, reading, and science have reached their lowest point in PISA history among highly developed economies.
The data, collected from over 760,000 teenagers across dozens of countries, underscores a growing disconnect between families and their children’s education. This trend is particularly evident in the United States, where reading and math scores continue to slide. Meanwhile, Asian nations like China, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea have maintained their positions at the top of the rankings.
The Role of Family Engagement in Educational Success
The PISA survey highlights a critical factor contributing to the decline in educational performance: the diminishing support from families. Compared to 2022, almost every country saw a drop in parental involvement, particularly for boys. This shift is reflected in the frequency of parents discussing schoolwork with their children or showing interest in their learning.
Andreas Schleicher, director for education and skills at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), noted that parents increasingly view themselves as clients of the school rather than active participants in their children’s education. The data supports this observation: students whose families regularly inquire about their school day score significantly higher on the PISA science test. This difference is equivalent to over a year and a half of learning, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors.
The Impact of Digital Distraction on Learning
Digital distraction is another significant factor affecting student performance. Over a quarter of students in high-income countries reported that their classmates were frequently distracted by digital devices during science classes. Countries with strong policies controlling the use of cellphones in schools experienced lower distraction rates, suggesting that regulation can mitigate this issue.
Schleicher emphasized the strong association between using digital devices for leisure and lower test scores. However, the relationship between technology and learning is nuanced. Countries where high schoolers used digital devices for around two to three hours per day in school saw higher test scores. But scores fell once tech use exceeded this threshold, indicating that moderation is key.
Asian Nations Lead in Educational Performance
Asian countries have demonstrated a remarkable ability to integrate technology into the classroom without causing distraction. Fewer than 10% of tested students in Japan, Korea, and mainland China reported digital distraction in the classroom. These nations also boast some of the strongest schools in the world, with Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Chinese provinces ranking among the top 10 regions for math, science, and reading.
Almost 100% of children in the Chinese provinces scored at or above baseline for math and reading, a stark contrast to the United States, where only 65% achieved this benchmark in math and 74% in reading. Experts warn that China’s educational dominance over the U.S. has serious political implications, particularly in the context of technological competition.
The Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Learning Outcomes
The PISA results also shed light on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on student performance. Generally, higher use of AI was associated with lower test scores. Students who reported never using chatbots performed better than those who did. Almost half of students in developed economies use AI chatbots to help them learn at least weekly.
Schleicher highlighted countries like China, Japan, Singapore, and Estonia as examples of successful AI integration in education. In Asia, teachers play a more active role in designing AI systems for the classroom. Schleicher recalled a classroom in China where elementary schoolers practiced calligraphy with ink and brushes. The teachers scanned their work and used AI to analyze and improve their handwriting, blending traditional methods with modern technology.
