Reading Capacity of Japanese Students Declines

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released the result of Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted in 2025. In the rankings of countries, Japan kept its position at the top five. However, it reduced its score of reading from the result of last survey three years before. It is supposed that long exposure to social networking services caused deterioration of students’ reading capacity. 

The OECD started PISA in 2000, assessing “the extent to which 15-year-old students have acquired key knowledge and skills for full participation in social and economic life.” The PISA is conducted on mathematics, reading and science in every three or four years. About 760 thousand students from 91 countries and regions participated in PISA 2025. In Japan, the survey was made to 6,500 freshpersons of 183 high schools between June and August 2025.

 

The result of 2025 PISA found that Japan is ranked within the top five in each of three categories, located at the fourth in reading and the fifth in math and science. Four cities in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang), Singapore and Chinese Taipei overwhelmed Japan in all the categories and Macau did it except reading. However, Japan occupied the top position of all the three categories among 38 OECD countries.

 

Although Japan kept its position of one of the tops of the world, its average points in reading declined from 516 in 2022 to 503 in 2025, as other countries revealed the same trend. It is estimated that decline of time for study in the COVID era affected the students to build a habit of constant study. As capability to find information and to understand it did not change, capability of reading fast and accurate declined.

 

A serious finding is that growingly prolonged daily use of smart phone or social networking services reduces opportunities for study. In a survey on situation of studying in Japan this spring, it was found that the ratio of correct answers declines among the students who watch SNS longer. While the ratio was 48.7 percent among the mid-school students who watch SNS for four hours a day or longer, it rose to 69.6 percent among them who watch SNS for 30 minutes or less.

 

The ratio of low-scored students increased in all three categories: 18.6 percent (+4.8 points) in reading, 11.3 percent (+3.3 points) in science and 16.1 percent (+4.1 points) in mathematics. It explains that growing number of students have not obtained knowledge and capability which should be done in compulsory education. It also is attributed to long-time use of SNS or lack of communication among families.

 

Japan is a country with less introduction of artificial intelligence in classrooms. While 19.1 percent of schools in OECD countries use AI in their schools, Japan has only 7 percent. However, it is undeniable that increasing use of AI or SNS seriously affects the environment for students to study. It must be the reason why some countries introduced policy to regulate juvenile use of smartphone.

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