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Six out of ten students in Cyprus struggle with reading comprehension. Parliament demands change.
PISA results in Cyprus reveal a serious problem with students' basic skills. As many as 62% of fifteen-year-olds surveyed failed to reach a basic level of reading comprehension. More than half also struggled with mathematics and science. The matter has been addressed by the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Culture.
The Ministry of Education is preparing a three-year plan, the implementation of which is scheduled to begin in January 2027. The pilot will cover second-year middle schools. Among the announced changes are a reduction in overloaded syllabuses, more time for understanding the material, and a reduced emphasis on memorization.
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PISA results in Cyprus alarm parliament
During the commission's meeting on October 14, its chairman, Chrysanthos Savvidis, highlighted students' difficulties with reading comprehension. He described the scale of the problem as terrifying.
The PISA 2025 study showed that Cyprus had the lowest average scores in the European Union in reading comprehension and science. In mathematics, it ranked second to last.
The differences from the EU average are particularly pronounced in reading and science. In both areas, the percentage of students below basic level in Cyprus was approximately twice as high.
How many students did not reach the basic level?
Percentage of fifteen-year-olds surveyed with a score below level 2 in PISA 2025.
| Field | Cyprus | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| Text comprehension | 62 percent | 31 percent |
| Mathematics | 56 percent | 34 percent |
| Natural science | 52 percent | 26 percent |
Rounded values. Results refer to the fifteen-year-olds surveyed, not all children attending schools in Cyprus.
Difficulty understanding text does not mean an inability to read
The results shouldn't be interpreted as meaning that six out of ten students can't read a sentence. PISA tests whether young people understand information and can use it in practice.
A student may read a text correctly and yet have difficulty drawing conclusions, comparing information, or assessing the significance of the arguments presented.
Assessment in mathematics and natural sciences is similar. Knowing a formula or definition is not enough if the student cannot apply the knowledge to solve a specific problem.
We reported on the poor results and the differences between Cyprus and Poland at the beginning of the school year.
Answers in seconds
The engagement of the study participants raises additional questions. According to the published data, nearly a quarter of the students responded in less than ten seconds, while approximately 5% did not respond.
Such rapid completion of tasks may indicate a superficial approach to the test. However, it does not, in itself, explain poor performance or identify the causes of individual student difficulties.
A separate, though related, topic is young people's relationship with books. We also explored this issue previously on CyprNews.
Less material, more understanding
Ministry of Education representative Giorgos Koutsidis emphasized that PISA does not provide a complete picture of a school. However, he admitted that the results require reflection on students' ability to develop their skills.
The Ministry points to the need to limit the amount of material taught. This would give teachers more time to explain concepts and ensure students truly understand them.
The changes are also intended to reduce rote learning and develop financial and civic education, as well as digital competences.
Plan for schools from January 2027
The three-year program will focus on reading comprehension, mathematics and science, also using PISA materials.
The pilot program will cover second-grade middle school students in the 2026/2027 school year. After evaluation, the materials will be distributed to third graders. First-grade high school students will be expected to complete more complex practical tasks.
The most important thing will be to verify the effectiveness of these activities. Only an assessment of students' progress will reveal whether the changes help them better understand the material and independently use their knowledge.
Sources: Reporter / Cyprus News Agency, Philenews, OECD, CyprNews archive.
