A sweeping international assessment finds that 15-year-olds are losing ground in reading and mathematics—an urgent warning about attention, technology and the habits forming the next generation.
Teenagers’ reading performance has fallen to its lowest level since the Programme for International Student Assessment began in 2000, according to the newly released PISA 2025 results.
The assessment tested approximately 760,000 15-year-olds across 91 countries and economies. Across OECD nations, average reading scores declined 28 points between 2015 and 2025—the equivalent of roughly a year and a half of learning. Mathematics scores fell 22 points, or just over a year of learning.
More Than an Academic Problem
Reading is not simply another school subject. It is the foundation for understanding history, science, civic life and Scripture. When young people struggle to sustain attention and interpret a text carefully, the consequences extend far beyond a report card.
The findings arrive amid growing concern about digital distraction. Heavy device use, constant notifications and the habit of rapidly skimming content can make sustained reading feel increasingly unfamiliar. Technology can support learning, but it cannot replace the patience, reflection and disciplined attention that deep comprehension requires.
THRIVE! Perspective: Attention Is Part of Discipleship
Biblical reflection: Psalm 1:2 describes a life shaped by meditation on God’s instruction. Learning to read carefully is not only an academic skill; it helps us examine claims, understand Scripture in context and grow in wisdom. These findings invite parents and educators to cultivate attention without treating technology as either a savior or the sole cause of the problem.
The report gives families and educators a practical place to begin: make room for books, conversation and uninterrupted thought. A household reading rhythm, regular library visits and device-free blocks of time can help restore habits that schools cannot cultivate alone.
For Christian families, this is also a formation issue. Scripture repeatedly calls believers to listen, remember, meditate and pursue wisdom. Those practices require more than exposure to information; they require an attentive mind.
The numbers are sobering, but decline is not destiny. Adults can model the habits they hope to see—reading deeply, asking thoughtful questions and treating attention as something worth protecting.
Sources: OECD PISA 2025 results; Reuters.
