How Global Education Models Can Fix Australia’s Classroom Crisis

Global PISA 2025 Rankings And Where Australia Lands

The PISA 2025 report tested 15-year-olds globally across mathematics, reading, science, and a newly introduced category for computational problem-solving. In the latest global standings, Australia moved up one place in reading to 11th, maintained 17th place in mathematics, and slipped one place in science to 11th. In computational problem-solving, Australia secured 8th place globally, with all scores remaining well above the OECD average.

However, the broad picture reveals widespread declines. According to Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish education expert and professor at the University of Melbourne who spoke to SBS News, every country in the OECD is showing all-time-low results across the board. “The headline is that we have all-time-low results. I think it’s absolutely astonishing that our mainstream media are saying this. The truth is every country in the OECD is showing all-time-low results in everything,” Sahlberg stated.

Federal Education Reforms and International Comparisons

Clare pointed to England’s performance—where the country climbed to the top 10 in reading, 10th in mathematics, and 8th in science—as a model for change. These planned adjustments involve a stronger focus on phonics, math curriculum updates, and screen-time regulations.

“The UK results are impressive. It’s also hard-earned. It’s something almost 20 years in the making,” Clare said in a statement, adding that while Australian schools adopting English methods are showing localized gains, a broader national rollout is necessary.

In contrast to England’s centralised model, high-performing Asia-Pacific jurisdictions like Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Macao, and several Chinese regions topped the PISA metrics. According to Therese Keane, a digital learning expert and professor in STEM Education at La Trobe University, Singapore’s success stems from pairing high technology with rigorous, subject-specific digital learning guidance rather than an accidental rollout. Keane noted that Australia’s historical tech integration under former prime minister Kevin Rudd’s digital education revolution was enacted too hastily, leaving technology ubiquitous without adequate pedagogical guidelines.

Structural Differences And Social Costs in High-Performing Systems

While top-tier Asian educational systems secure high marks, Sahlberg cautioned that these achievements carry a steep human price. He noted that in countries like Singapore, Japan, and China, nearly 80 to 100 percent of students attend after-school tutoring daily, alongside classes on Saturdays and Sundays. “This comes with a huge human cost, and social cost,” Sahlberg said, questioning how many Australian parents would want to impose that schedule on their children.

Furthermore, Sahlberg argued that Australia’s challenges extend beyond the classroom. The PISA data showed that 75 per cent of Australian students reported their parents or guardians asking them at least once a week about their school day, down from 81 per cent in 2022. “England, Canada, USA, all the others, we are all in this miserable situation together,” Sahlberg remarked regarding the decline in home reading culture.

Rather than importing foreign models, Sahlberg suggested that Australia should address its fragmented internal structure. With 24 distinct educational jurisdictions operating competitively, state, Catholic, and independent schools rarely share best practices, creating a siloed system that struggles to learn from its own successes.

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