Belgian students continue to struggle with basic skills, PISA results show

Belgian students continue to struggle with basic skills in reading, mathematics and science, according to the latest results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released Tuesday.

The assessment shows a continued decline in student performance, particularly in reading and mathematics, with significant differences between Belgium's language communities and students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Until 2013, the Flanders region had more top-performing students in mathematics than low-performing students.

The balance has since been reversed, with roughly one in four students now failing to reach the basic level.

In Flanders, 29.4% failed to reach the basic proficiency level in reading comprehension. The figure stood at 25.6% in mathematics, and 22.6% in science.

The results also highlighted a persistent socioeconomic divide.

Around one in three Flemish students from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background was classified as a low achiever, compared with one in 10 students from a more privileged background.

Students in the French-speaking community performed around the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average in reading, mathematics and science.

Their results, however, remain considerably below those recorded in Flanders.

Flanders and the French-speaking community have experienced a decline in performance in the last 15 years.

While Flanders remains among the top 20 countries, the French-speaking community ranks approximately 10 places lower.