Ankara: 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 highlights a continued decline in student performance, notably in reading and mathematics, with significant disparities between Belgium's language communities and students from varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

According to Anadolu Agency, the assessment reveals that until 2013, the Flanders region had more top-performing students in mathematics than low-performing students. However, this balance has shifted, with approximately one in four students now failing to reach the basic level. In Flanders, 29.4% of students failed to achieve the basic proficiency level in reading comprehension, 25.6% in mathematics, and 22.6% in science.

The results underscore a persistent socioeconomic gap, with about one in three Flemish students from disadvantaged backgrounds classified as low achievers, compared to one in ten students from more privileged backgrounds. Students in the French-speaking community performed around the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average in reading, mathematics, and science, although their results remain significantly below those recorded in Flanders.

Both the Flanders and French-speaking communities have experienced a decline in performance over the past 15 years. While Flanders remains among the top 20 countries, the French-speaking community ranks approximately 10 places lower in the standings.