Spain's Adult Literacy and Math Skills Lag Behind OECD Standards
A concerning trend has emerged from the 2023 results of the Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), revealing that nearly one-third of adults aged 16 to 65 in Spain demonstrate only basic math skills and struggle with reading and problem-solving. This inadequacy in foundational skills has persisted over the last decade, positioning Spain among the lowest-performing countries in terms of adult competencies as compared to 31 OECD and EU nations.
The report presents disheartening figures for Spain: adults scored 247 in reading, 250 in math, and 241 in problem-solving, all falling short of the OECD and EU averages by about 10 points. While these averages are troubling, it’s noteworthy that other countries in the vicinity are also grappling with low competency levels among a quarter of their adult populations. However, Spain's performance remains dismal, with only about 6% of the adult population achieving high performance in these skill areas.
In stark contrast, Nordic countries and Japan continue to excel in these competencies. Finland, for instance, boasts impressive scores between 296 and 294, while Japan nears 290. Sweden follows with a score of 285, with Belgium showing scores between 275 and 279. Spain’s competency levels fall behind neighboring countries like France, Austria, Korea, and Latvia, and barely surpass those of Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Chile.
The report further illustrates that age significantly impacts performance levels in Spain. Younger adults aged 16 to 24 achieved a maximum reading score of 257, whereas those aged 55 to 65 scored a dismal 235. Similarly, in math, younger adults scored an average of 256, contrasting with the older population's score of 241. In problem-solving, the range was between 248 for younger and 230 for older adults.
Interestingly, gender disparities in these skills appear minimal, although a 10-point advantage for men in math skills aligns with the OECD average. The report highlights significant differences regarding the origin of individuals, with reading scores for adults born abroad lagging 36 points behind those of their native counterparts. In math competencies, that gap expands to 38 points.
Despite the stagnation in essential skills, Spain has made progress by nearly 10 percentage points over the last decade in the proportion of adults completing tertiary education beyond secondary schooling. This increase could hint at potential improvements in skills in the coming years.
The data indicates a complex reality where educational attainment is rising, yet basic skills are not keeping pace, creating a challenging landscape for workforce development and economic resilience in Spain. As educational standards evolve worldwide, addressing these deficiencies should be a priority to ensure that Spain's adult population can effectively participate in an increasingly competitive global environment.
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