Global Test Scores Plummet as Family Support for Education Drops
International PISA results show falling math, science, and reading scores globally, alongside a drop in family support for education.
Fresh data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) paints a sobering picture of global education. Scores in mathematics, science, and reading have fallen sharply across most participating nations, marking one of the most significant downturns recorded in recent cycles.
The decline is not confined to a single region or income group. The charts, current as of September 8, 2026, show a broad-based slide in performance, suggesting systemic pressures affecting students worldwide.
Alongside the academic dip, the data highlights a parallel trend: family support for education has dropped globally. This metric, which tracks parental involvement and encouragement at home, has weakened in tandem with test performance, raising questions about the home-learning environment's role in student outcomes.
Despite the global slump, East Asian economies continue to dominate the upper ranks of the assessment. Their sustained high performance stands in contrast to the wider downward trajectory, offering a regional bright spot in an otherwise challenging landscape.
The findings are expected to fuel debates among policymakers over curriculum reforms, learning recovery strategies, and the need to re-engage families in the educational process.