Education Minister Links Falling PISA Scores to Smartphones
Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre said recent declines in Portuguese student scores on the international PISA exam stem from early smartphone use and social media habits. Alexandre also stated that previous administrations reduced educational standards by devaluing external exams and standardized tests. With national reading results falling to 2006 levels, the government plans to restrict smartphone access during school hours and introduce new diagnostic evaluations.
Fernando Alexandre is the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation in Portugal's current government, which took office in April 2024. An economist by training, he previously served as a Secretary of State and is now responsible for managing the national school system and university funding. He recently sparked debate by suggesting that university tuition fees should be adjusted to account for inflation.
The Programme for International Student Assessment (Programa Internacional de Avaliação de Alunos or PISA) is a worldwide study by the OECD that measures 15-year-old students' performance in mathematics, science, and reading. It provides a standardized benchmark for education systems, helping policymakers identify strengths and weaknesses in national curricula compared to other countries.
