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The MPs from the Education Committee, including Ricardo Marques, Jeff Boonen, Alex Donnersbach, Paul
Galles and Jean-Paul Schaaf, discussed the results of the PISA study with Education Minister Claude Meisch. The OECD published it on 8 September 2026.
Link to the study - Ministry of National Education: https://men.public.lu/lb/actualites/communiques-conference-presse/2026/09/08-pisa-2025.html
The results are rather worrying for Luxembourg. In science, mathematics and, above all, reading
comprehension, Luxembourg’s students are below the OECD average.
In the Education Committee, Ricardo Marques stressed that the 2025 PISA study should not be viewed merely as an international ranking. For him, it is far more important to use the results as an opportunity to “take a very honest look at our school” and to ask what can be done better in Luxembourg.
He pointed out that the figures clearly show problems in several areas. In Luxembourg there are too many young people who do not reach the basic, fundamental skills. In reading that is around 38 percent of 15-year-old students, in mathematics 37 percent and in science 32 percent.
Ricardo Marques underlined that one must not be satisfied with this situation. The results must be analysed and better understood. At the same time, said Ricardo Marques, every effort must be made to improve the situation.
In his view, however, there is no simple solution, no “magic formula”. All the more important, then, is to analyse the various figures in detail and also to look at which factors lie behind them.
Ricardo Marques was particularly struck by a statement from the study according to which 50% of young people would give up when a task becomes more difficult. “When it gets a bit harder, then I stop,” he described the attitude that emerges from these data. In his view, that must concern both politics and the education world.
For Ricardo Marques, this therefore also raises the question of whether achievement should once again be placed more strongly at the centre of schooling. He spoke out in favour of a “more performance-oriented school” in which every student is motivated to develop further and to aim higher.
The PISA results are thus, said Ricardo Marques, above all an invitation to honestly analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Luxembourg’s school system and, on that basis, to work out improvements.
FAQ: What does the 2025 PISA study say about Luxembourg?
- What is the 2025 PISA study?
The PISA study is conducted by the OECD. It compares students’ performance in different countries. It looks, among other things, at science, mathematics and reading comprehension. - When was the 2025 PISA study published?
The study was published by the OECD on 8 September 2026. - How does Luxembourg perform in science?
- Luxembourg scores 474 points. The OECD average is 482 points.
- What do the results in mathematics look like?
- In mathematics, Luxembourg’s students reach 458 points. The OECD average is 463 points.
- What is the situation in reading comprehension?
- In reading comprehension, Luxembourg scores 443 points. The OECD average is 461 points.
- How large is the impact of the social environment?
- The differences between socially advantaged and disadvantaged students are large. In science, the gap is 130 points, in mathematics 114 points and in reading comprehension 108 points.
- Are the social differences in Luxembourg larger than in the OECD?
- Yes. In all three areas, the differences in Luxembourg are larger than the OECD average.
- How many students are behind at school?
- 27.3 percent of students in Luxembourg are at least one year behind at school. In the OECD average, it is 10.9 percent.
- How many students do not reach the basic level in reading?
- 38 percent of students in Luxembourg do not reach the basic level in reading comprehension.
- Are there also positive results?
- Yes. The differences between students with and without a migration background have become smaller.
- What does the study say about smartphones in the classroom?
- The study shows that smartphones and other digital aids can distract students in class.
- How many students use artificial intelligence to learn?
- 47 percent of students in Luxembourg say they regularly use AI to learn.
- What do the results mean for Luxembourg’s school system?
- The results show that there are still major challenges, especially in reading, mathematics and science. Social differences also remain an important issue.
FAQ: What is Ricardo Marques calling for after the PISA results?
- How does Ricardo Marques assess the 2025 PISA study?
For Ricardo Marques, the PISA study should not be seen merely as an international ranking. Far more important is to use the results to “take a very honest look at our school” and to analyse what can be done better in Luxembourg. - Where does he see the biggest problems?
He points above all to basic skills. Too many young people still do not reach the necessary level in reading, mathematics and science. - How should politics respond to these results?
For Ricardo Marques, one must not be satisfied with the current situation. The results must be analysed carefully to understand where the problems lie and how the school system can be improved. - Is there, in his view, a simple solution?
No. There is no “magic formula”. That is why the figures must be examined in detail and it must also be analysed which factors lie behind the results. - What worries him about student motivation?
- Ricardo Marques highlighted a statement from the study according to which many young people give up quickly when tasks become more difficult. In his view, the attitude “When it gets a bit harder, then I stop” must be taken seriously.
- Should achievement once again play a bigger role?
For Ricardo Marques, the question clearly arises as to whether achievement should once again move more strongly to the centre of schooling. He spoke out in favour of a “more performance-oriented school”. - What does he mean by a more performance-oriented school?
- A school in which students are motivated to develop further, to make an effort and to make better use of their potential.
- What is his conclusion from the PISA results?
For Ricardo Marques, the results are above all an invitation to honestly analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Luxembourg’s school system and, building on that, to draw up concrete improvements.