Story perspectives

NI PISA Scores Fall as Givan Pushes TransformED Reform

9/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

Education Minister Paul Givan says PISA results expose major challenges and call for the TransformED Reform Programme.
Northern Ireland pupils scored 482 in reading and 473 in mathematics in the 2025 PISA, trailing the Republic and England.
England maintained above-average PISA results, keeping the United Kingdom in the top-10 global rankings.
The OECD warns that global reading scores have fallen double digits since 2018, linking the drop to digital distractions.

History

Historical Context

The OECD introduced PISA in 2000 to benchmark 15-year-old learners, publishing results every three years. The United Kingdom, with England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland tested separately, scored near the OECD average of 496 in reading in the 2012 cycle. Paul Givan’s TransformED Reform builds on this data-driven legacy, aiming to lift Northern Ireland’s future scores into the top-ten.

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Story summary

Education Minister Paul Givan says PISA results expose major challenges and call for the TransformED Reform Programme.
Northern Ireland pupils scored 482 in reading and 473 in mathematics in the 2025 PISA, trailing the Republic and England.
England maintained above-average PISA results, keeping the United Kingdom in the top-10 global rankings.
The OECD warns that global reading scores have fallen double digits since 2018, linking the drop to digital distractions.

1 / 2