The results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that Portuguese students registered significant regressions in the areas of mathematics, reading and science, returning to levels similar to those of two decades ago. This decline represents the loss of gains that had been achieved over the years in these international assessments.
The Portuguese Ministry of Education considered the results as "historic, but in the negative sense," acknowledging the gravity of the situation. This position of the Government indicates increased concern about the performance of Portuguese students in the international context.
The PISA data, which evaluates 15-year-old students in various countries, serves as an important indicator to compare the quality of education between different educational systems. The observed drop positions Portugal unfavorably in relation to other countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
