Germany Records Worst-Ever PISA Results: One-Third Fail Basic Literacy and Numeracy

Germany has recorded its worst performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), with the latest results showing that approximately one-third of German students lack basic proficiency in reading and mathematics, according to data released in September 2026.

The results represent a significant decline from Germany's previous PISA scores and mark a continuation of a troubling downward trend that has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted schooling across the country.

Education ministers from Germany's 16 federal states gathered for an emergency session to discuss the findings, with several calling for urgent structural reforms to the German education system, which remains highly decentralized and varies significantly between states.

Among the key factors cited by researchers: high rates of immigration creating language barriers in classrooms, underfunding of schools in economically disadvantaged areas, a shortage of qualified teachers, and insufficient support systems for students with learning difficulties.

Germany's poor PISA performance has sparked a national debate about investment in education, with opposition parties calling for increased federal funding for schools and teacher training programs. The current government has pledged to review the situation, but critics argue that meaningful change requires years of sustained investment.

Germany previously faced a so-called 'PISA shock' in 2001 when its initial results revealed students performing well below the OECD average, triggering years of reform efforts. The new data suggests those reforms have proven insufficient to address deepening educational inequality.