Global Assessment Reveals Alarming Decline in Teen Reading Skills
By Editor • September 8, 2026 • 2 min read
A recent global assessment has unveiled a troubling trend in the reading abilities of teenagers, showing that youth are reading at the lowest levels recorded this century. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that a significant evaluation of 760,000 15-year-olds across 91 countries indicated a broader decline in educational performance, particularly in reading, mathematics, and science.
Declining Scores Highlight Educational Crisis
The OECD's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), released on Tuesday, revealed that the average reading score for students has plummeted from a high of 501 in 2012 to just 466 last year. This decline indicates that today’s teenagers are reading at levels previously expected of students a year younger. Alongside reading scores, the study noted that average science and mathematics skills have also reached their lowest points since data collection began in 2000, with science scores dropping from 506 in 2009 to 486, and mathematics scores falling from 502 to 469.
Impact of Digital Distractions
Mathias Cormann, head of the OECD, attributed these declining results to increased screen time and a decrease in reading for pleasure. He highlighted a concerning trend where students are rushing through texts, resulting in hasty and incorrect answers. Notably, students from wealthier backgrounds experienced sharper declines in reading scores. Cormann also noted that digital devices, while potentially beneficial for learning, become detrimental when used excessively. Students in OECD countries average 3.4 hours of leisure digital device use and an additional 3 hours for educational purposes each day. The report suggests that beyond five hours of daily screen time, academic performance begins to suffer.
Regional Disparities and AI Usage
Among the regions assessed, East Asia emerged as the top performer, with cities in China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan leading the way. Only Britain and Estonia managed to break into the top 10 in reading, mathematics, and science outside of this region. Furthermore, the study found that nearly half of the students regularly use artificial intelligence chatbots for educational purposes. However, those who rely on these tools for tasks such as essay drafting and summarization typically scored about 20 points lower in science, equivalent to a year’s worth of learning.
Source: www.japantimes.co.jp
