The government is presenting the PISA 2025 results as a success, with Albania ranking first in the region in science and mathematics. But behind this optimistic interpretation, the data themselves reveal a serious problem that official propaganda tries to soften: a large share of Albanian 15-year-olds still fail to reach basic skills, especially in reading.
Strong increase in points, but still not in line with international standards
According to the PISA 2025 results, Albania improved compared with 2022 in all three testing areas. The increase is reported at 65 points in mathematics, 59 points in science and 50 points in reading.
However, the numerical improvement does not change the fact that Albania remains below the average of the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. This means that relative growth compared with its own previous results does not automatically translate into satisfactory performance against the international standard.
The government celebrates its place in the region, but the picture requires more caution
In the region, Albania ranks first in science and mathematics, ahead of Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Greece. This was also the element that drew the main political attention, with Prime Minister Edi Rama congratulating students, teachers and school leaders.
But the regional ranking, used as a political banner, is not enough to hide the structural weaknesses shown in the same report. When the real skill levels are examined, the institutional enthusiasm appears clearly greater than the actual reason for celebration.
Reading remains the main alarm
The data show that 61% of Albanian students reached the minimum skill level in science and 55% in mathematics. The situation is more problematic in reading, where about half of 15-year-olds did not reach the basic level defined by PISA.
The international assessment ranks Albania fourth from the bottom in reading, while in this field it is also behind regional countries such as Serbia and Montenegro, as well as Romania. This is the indicator that most calls into question the real quality of the education system beyond triumphalist statements.
Very few students at the highest levels
Another problematic indicator is linked to top performance. In reading, Albania has no 15-year-olds at the highest levels of absolute performance, while in science there are only 1% and in mathematics 2%.
A total of 5,959 students from 160 Albanian schools took part in the assessment. The PISA test is conducted in 90 countries around the world and is widely used as a measure of young people’s functional skills, not simply the formal knowledge acquired in the classroom.
Beyond regional comparisons that serve the political debate of the day, the figures show a more complicated reality for education in Albania. There is improvement, but not enough to justify institutional self-satisfaction, especially when reading remains the weakest point and a large number of students still do not reach the basic skills threshold.