More than 700,000 15-year-old students took part in the latest edition of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). According to CNN en Español, seven of the 13 countries assessed in the region posted average declines compared with previous measurements, confirming a picture of stalled learning affecting young people.
The international assessment covered science, math and reading in 91 countries. The organization warned that the overall level achieved in this round represents "one of the lowest levels of educational performance ever recorded for the PISA tests," pointing to structural challenges in classrooms across the continent.
In response, the Dominican Evangelical Alliance (AEDO) called for a national response to the country's low student learning levels. In a statement, the organization proposed strengthening basic skills, reviewing teacher training, and promoting greater involvement from families and society as a whole in education.
According to the PISA report on the Dominican Republic, only 9% of students assessed reached the minimum proficiency level in math, 23% in reading and 26% in science.
"This data isn't just a poor international score; it's a serious warning about the present and future of our nation," said Bishop Reynaldo Franco Aquino, AEDO's president.
The organization warned that difficulties in understanding texts, reasoning and interpreting evidence undermine teenagers' preparedness to function in society. In its view, the problem also requires addressing motivation, study habits, perseverance and family support.
The statement noted that between 2022 and 2025, the share of students who said they work harder when faced with difficult tasks fell by 10.8 percentage points, while curiosity dropped 10.2 points.
Another focus of the statement was the use of digital devices. AEDO said technology can expand access to knowledge, but warned of the risks of using it in ways that replace reading, reflection and independent work. It called for effectively regulating cellphone use during school hours and developing programs on digital responsibility and critical thinking.
Among its proposals is an emergency plan to strengthen reading, math and science, with public goals and regular assessments. It also called for reviewing teacher training, hiring and support, while ensuring decent working conditions.
The organization also called for greater transparency around education spending, so that accountability measures show how much students are actually learning. It further called for strengthening school attendance, punctuality and discipline.
AEDO said these responsibilities go beyond the Ministry of Education and involve schools, teachers, families, churches, media outlets and community organizations. In particular, it stressed that parents cannot fully hand off their children's upbringing to schools.
As part of its response, the alliance said it was ready to mobilize churches, schools, universities and community organizations to organize reading clubs, tutoring, family support programs and guidance on the responsible use of technology. It stressed that these initiatives need to be part of a sustained, measurable national strategy.
"PISA's results shouldn't leave us so ashamed that we're paralyzed — they should shake us into action," Franco Aquino said, urging that the findings be translated into decisions, sustained education policy and concrete results.
Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
