PISA 2025: views from two BETA experts on the challenges facing education

To mark the publication of the results of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA 2025), Nadir Altinok (BETA, University of Lorraine) and Claude Diebolt (CNRS, BETA, University of Strasbourg), two BETA specialists in the economics of education, contributed to the public debate through media appearances.

In an interview with 20 Minutes, published on 8 September 2026, Nadir Altinok calls for a more nuanced view of the discourse on declining academic standards. He points out that assessments must take into account the changing skills required in contemporary societies and highlights the emergence of new abilities, particularly in the areas of critical analysis and adaptability.

In an opinion piece, co-authored with Romain Diebolt, published on 9 September 2026 on the The Conversation website, Claude Diebolt urges readers to look beyond international rankings alone and instead draw lessons from them regarding the ability of education systems to evolve and reform.

Further reading: Nadir Altinok, Claude Diebolt, Edumetrics: Measuring Human Capital for the 21st Century, Springer Nature, 2026 (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-13277-2)