{"id":177634,"date":"2026-09-08T11:31:48","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T09:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/?p=177634"},"modified":"2026-09-08T11:31:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T09:31:50","slug":"samsta-pisa-resultatet-nagonsin-for-elever-i-sverige","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/the-best-pisa-results-ever-for-students-in-sweden\/","title":{"rendered":"Worst PISA results ever for students in Sweden"},"content":{"rendered":"<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Swedish 15-year-olds have achieved their lowest PISA scores to date in reading comprehension and mathematics. Jimmie \u00c5kesson (SD) points to mass immigration and a lack of proficiency in Swedish as key explanations\u2014while at the same time, a report from the Swedish National Agency for Education shows significant differences between Swedish students and students with a foreign background.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sweden continues its downward trend in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skolverket.se\/sok-publikationer\/publikationsserier\/rapporter\/2026\/pisa-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PISA<\/a><\/strong>, the OECD\u2019s international study of 15-year-olds\u2019 proficiency in reading comprehension, mathematics, and science. The study has been conducted since 2000 and is used to compare academic performance across countries and over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Approximately 760,000 students from 91 countries and regions participated in PISA 2025. In Sweden, 6,688 students participated. The results show a clear decline since the previous assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sweden has lost 21 points in reading comprehension and 18 points in mathematics since 2022. In mathematics, the score is the lowest Sweden has recorded since testing began. Sweden now ranks around the OECD average in all three subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, the percentage of students who do not reach the basic proficiency level has increased. In reading comprehension, this figure is 31 percent, and in mathematics, 34 percent, compared with 24 and 27 percent, respectively, in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u00c5kesson: Turning a Blind Eye to the Fundamental Problem<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the results were presented, <strong>Jimmie \u00c5kesson<\/strong> to attack what he describes as excuses. The SD leader believes that mass immigration and a lack of proficiency in Swedish must be central to discussions about school performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201dThe political parties in Sweden that still turn a blind eye to the mess they\u2019ve created will explain the dismal results of the PISA assessment by saying, \u201cIt\u2019s the computers\u201d fault!\u201c or \u201dIt\u2019s the profits\u201d fault!\u2019\u201d<\/em>, he writes on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jimmieakesson\/status\/2097241622291333337\">X<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"sv\" dir=\"ltr\">That whole mass immigration thing didn't turn out so well, did it?<br><br>The political parties in Sweden that still turn a blind eye to the mess they\u2019ve created will explain the dismal results of the PISA assessment by saying, \u201cIt\u2019s the computers\u201d fault!\u201c or \u201dIt\u2019s the profits\u2019 fault!\u201d. <br><br>Those are just excuses to\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qh4JgCcrUu\">pic.twitter.com\/qh4JgCcrUu<\/a><\/p>- Jimmie \u00c5kesson (@jimmieakesson) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jimmieakesson\/status\/2097241622291333337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 8, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00c5kesson points above all to language. His explanation is that a limited Swedish vocabulary not only affects reading comprehension but also the ability to understand instructions, textbooks, and instruction in other subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201dWhen every other young person in many parts of the country speaks a limited local dialect, has a poor vocabulary, and can barely speak\u2014let alone read\u2014the Swedish language, you can\u2019t expect them to perform particularly well in school. Not in any subject.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significant differences between the groups<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Figures from the Swedish National Agency for Education show significant differences based on migration background. In mathematics, Swedish students scored an average of 482 points. Students born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents scored 438 points, while foreign-born students scored 426 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The difference is also clearly evident among students who do not reach the PISA basic proficiency level. In reading comprehension, this applies to 23 percent of Swedish students, 41 percent of students born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents, and 55 percent of foreign-born students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In mathematics, the corresponding percentages are 27 percent among Swedish students, 46 percent among students born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents, and 50 percent among foreign-born students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same pattern is evident in the natural sciences. There, 18 percent of Swedish students fall below the basic proficiency level, compared with 38 percent of students born in Sweden to two foreign-born parents and 47 percent of foreign-born students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>These differences have existed for a long time<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is not just about the results from a single year. The National Agency for Education\u2019s review shows that, over a long period of time, students with a foreign background have, on average, performed worse than Swedish students in reading comprehension, mathematics, and science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the natural sciences, these differences have existed throughout the entire period since 2006. In mathematics as well, the Swedish National Agency for Education\u2019s time series shows a recurring gap between Swedish students and students with a foreign background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, Sweden has a higher proportion of students with a foreign background than the other Nordic countries. This proportion also increased between PISA 2022 and PISA 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PISA does not determine what proportion of Sweden\u2019s long-term results can be attributed to immigration. However, the report shows that a migrant background is associated with significant differences in results, which provides statistical support for the issue raised by \u00c5kesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The latest case is more widespread<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, trends between 2022 and 2025 show that the most recent decline in test scores affects more groups. Swedish students have seen their scores drop, while scores among foreign-born students have improved or remained stable. As a result, the differences between the groups have narrowed in the most recent assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That does not change the long-standing gap between the groups. However, the trend shows that other factors have contributed to the decline itself between the last two PISA assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Screens and Less Reading<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another explanation that has been put forward is digitalization. The government has pointed to increased screen time and a decline in reading, while the OECD discusses, among other things, changing reading habits, concentration, and the use of digital tools. Education Minister Simona Mohamsson <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SMohamsson\/status\/2097242385977692354\">explains<\/a><\/strong> including, among other things, a \u201dscreen pandemic.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"sv\" dir=\"ltr\">We are in the midst of a screen pandemic. Nearly all countries have seen their scores drop in the latest PISA assessment. The government has therefore revised its policy to promote more books, more reading, and fewer screens in the classroom. Now it\u2019s important that we don\u2019t let the screen enthusiasts in the opposition change course for\u2026<\/p>- Simona Mohamsson (@SMohamsson) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SMohamsson\/status\/2097242385977692354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 8, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This does not necessarily contradict \u00c5kesson\u2019s explanation regarding language. Vocabulary, reading habits, and the ability to understand longer texts are important for instruction in several subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u00c5kesson Wants to Raise Language Requirements<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For \u00c5kesson, the solution lies in both immigration policy and language policy. According to the Sweden Democrats leader, Sweden should not return to its previous level of immigration, while at the same time raising the requirements for proficiency in Swedish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201dLanguage is a fundamental prerequisite for learning, and if we do not overcome this problem, we will never see a significant improvement in PISA scores.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He concludes his post with a political message:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201dThe Sweden Democrats are the guarantee that the policy of mass immigration will never return and that language requirements for everyone living in Sweden will be raised.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PISA 2025 reveals both a new, widespread decline in Swedish school performance and significant, long-standing disparities linked to migration background. \u00c5kesson\u2019s message is that immigration and the language issue must be taken into account when discussing the causes of this trend\u2014and when formulating policies to reverse it.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sweden posts its worst PISA results to date. At the same time, the figures reveal significant knowledge gaps\u2014and \u00c5kesson points to mass immigration<\/p>","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":121817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[206,1520,205],"tags":[421,1322,2982,6645],"class_list":["post-177634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-inrikes","category-stor","category-nyheter","tag-invandring","tag-jimmie-akesson","tag-pisa","tag-skola"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}