Vietnamese Students Lag in Reading Proficiency in PISA 2025

In the 2025 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results released this week by the OECD, over 7,350 Vietnamese students participated from 194 secondary schools. The findings indicate that only 41% of these students reached Level 2 proficiency or above in reading, a critical baseline, falling nearly 30 percentage points below the OECD average. While Vietnamese students scored well in science (457 points) and mathematics (461 points), their reading score averaged 392 points. The proportion reaching Level 2 or above in science and mathematics was 71% and 58% respectively, aligning closer to OECD averages of 74% and 65%. The Ministry of Education and Training acknowledged the shift from paper-based to computer-based testing in this PISA cycle, suggesting it might influence score comparisons. However, the ministry emphasized the urgent need to enhance reading comprehension skills across all subjects. They highlighted that reading proficiency is fundamental not only for literature classes but also for solving word problems in mathematics, understanding scientific concepts, interpreting data, and navigating online information. To address this, the ministry advised teachers to expose students to diverse information formats, including texts, tables, images, and data, and to implement regular assessments for timely support. They also encouraged adopting PISA's pedagogical approach, focusing on explanation, reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking, rather than turning it into a high-stakes exam. Despite the challenges in reading proficiency, the ministry noted that Vietnam's education system possesses strong resources, with students valuing learning, demonstrating persistence, and adapting quickly to new technologies. Vietnam first participated in PISA in 2012, and this latest assessment involved approximately 765,000 students from 91 countries and economies. Information source: VnExpress International