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Test Scores Are Dropping Around The World As Families Lose Interest In Their Kids’ Education 

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According to newly released standardized test results taken by 15-year-olds around the world, test scores are continuing to plunge, while families’ interest in their kids’ education is also decreasing in many high-income countries. 

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) was taken by more than 760,000 teenagers in dozens of countries last year. The results were released this week and showed that the average scores in math, reading, and science are at their lowest point in PISA history among the nations with some of the most developed economies. 

The US specifically has seen a continuous decline in their reading and math scores. China, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea scored the highest marks on the test with Estonia, the UK, and New Zealand also scoring high, according to reports from the Associated Press. 

There are a multitude of reasons as to why test scores are falling so much around the world, and thanks to an accompanying survey taken by the students, we have a greater insight into why this is happening. 

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When compared to the 2022 PISA results, almost every nation saw a decline in family support for their kids’ education, which was measured by questions about how often parents talk to their kids about their schoolwork, classes, projects, and learning in general.

“Parents see themselves more as a client of the school, not as someone who takes personal interest,” said Andreas Schleicher, director for education and skills for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which runs the PISA test.

The results showed that students who claimed a family member asked them at least weekly about what they did in school that day scored around 35 points higher on the PISA science test, compared with students whose family took less interest. 

One of the other factors is the distraction of technology. Over 25% of students in high-income countries complained that their classmates got distracted by digital devices in most or every science class. Countries that have strong policies controlling the use of cellphones in schools, distraction rates were found to be lower. 

“There’s undoubtedly a strong association between students using digital devices for leisure and lower test scores,” Schleicher said.

When technology is used in the classroom for educational purposes, the results do differ. In Asia, for example, technology is being used in a way to benefit student learning. Fewer than 10% of the students tested in Japan, Korea, and mainland China complained about digital distraction in school. 

Asia also had some of the strongest schools in the world. Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Chinese provinces ranked among the top 10 regions for math, science, and reading. 

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Close to 100% of children in the Chinese provinces scored at, or above, baseline for both math and reading. For comparison, in the US only 65% scores at the baseline in math and 74% in reading. 

“To win a technological race, you need the people with the science and the technology and the reading capabilities,” said Tracey Burns, chief of global strategy and research at the National Center for Education and the Economy.

The US scores for math were equal to the average among the nations that administered the test, with the nation being in the top 15 in the world for science, reading, and their new category computational problem-solving. 

US students reading and math scores, however, reached the lowest point since the early 2000s, when the PISA test was first administered. Overall, researchers said that the US’s results should be “taken with a grain of salt” due to the fact that they didn’t meet the standards for having a large enough sample of schools and students to participate in the test. 

One of the biggest issues education systems all over the world are also tackling is the use of artificial intelligence, which has been linked to lower test scores. Students who stated that they never used chatbots performed better than students who did, with almost half of the students in developed economies claiming that they use AI chatbots to help them learn at least once a week.

Schleicher said that China, Japan, Singapore, and Estonia as nations that have succeeded in using AI to “support learning without overusing it.” 

He said that in Asia specifically teachers are more empowered to take the lead in designing AI systems for the classroom. 

“In the United States, teachers largely implement lessons. In Asia, teachers have a very strong role.” 

He also recalled a classroom in China where elementary schoolers were practicing calligraphy with ink and brushes, and then teachers would scan their work using AI to analyze how their handwriting could improve.

flood

Rescue Efforts Continue In Nepal As Death Toll Exceeds 1,000

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Rescue teams are continuing to search through debris, rocks, destroyed roads, and mud this week on the border of Nepal and China as thousands of people are still missing after devastating floods took over communities all throughout the region, with the UN now reporting that more than 1,000 have died from the disaster. 

It’s been reported that police in Kathmandu are burying dozens of bodies in trenches. Nepal’s disaster agency said that 1,003 deaths have been counted there with over 3,900 people missing, including 583 foreign nationals. In China’s most recent update, they reported 16 deaths with 546 people missing, including 261 foreigners. 

The disaster occurred on August 26th and devastated both nations due to how large it was. Extremely heavy flooding led to intense landslides that destroyed roads and buildings while isolating more remote areas, making rescue efforts difficult. 

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The unstable terrain and debris are making it even more difficult for rescue crews to find people, and many are worried that the death toll could become much higher than it is currently. 

One of the rescue efforts involves hundreds of workers who are trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects in Nepal due to flooding. According to local authorities, around 900 workers are missing from 12 projects with about 500 believed to be trapped in the tunnels themselves. 

Nepal’s army spokesperson, Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet, stated that teams who are being assisted by foreign experts were working at several hydropower projects. 

In China, rescue crews are dealing with a lot of rescue missions in areas hit by mudslides, specifically around the Gyirong Port border crossing which was destroyed. 

Rescuers are utilizing search dogs to look among rocks and debris for signs of life, with other teams using heavy machinery to clear out areas to make way for more equipment, personnel, and supplies to reach the disaster zone, according to China’s state-run Global Times newspaper. 

In Kathmandu, police have also been dealing with heavy rain conditions this week as they continue to bury dozens of bodies in multiple tranches adjacent to forested areas. 

All throughout Nepal, authorities have been using temporary graves until the individuals can be identified. As a part of this effort they’re also preserving DNA samples, photographing distinguishing marks and facial features, and taking detailed records of each victim to ideally be able to swiftly give their loved ones some closure. 

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Authorities in Nepal reported that at least 11,814 people have been rescued so far, with emergency crews using helicopters and other aircrafts to reach communities that are stranded due to roads and bridges being destroyed from flooding and landslides. 

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, stated that efforts are being stepped up to help provide assistance to survivors in areas that have been cut off or damaged. He emphasized that a second batch of relief supplies was being sent to Nepal. Drones, DNA testing, and water purification equipment will be utilized. 

Bimal Sharma, a helicopter pilot who’s experienced in flying rescue and relief missions, told the media that he was shocked to see the devastation in Timure, the border town close to Tibet. 

“It felt like I was flying over an entirely different landscape. I can see the pain in [the survivors] eyes. It’s heartbreaking.”

Scientists who are studying satellite imagery of the disaster stated that it began in the Himalayas when a glacial collapse sent a large amount of rocks, ice , and meltwater into the valleys below, which triggered the major flooding. The rockfall alone was powerful enough to register as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event. 

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated that the disaster shows just how much the world needs to take action to combat climate change. 

“This incident has indicated that the risks we face in the Himalayan region are increasing with climate change,” Shah said.

“Therefore, this region must be alert, and at the same time, it is time for us to strongly raise the issue of disasters caused by climate change before the international community.”

mining

Multiple Nations Are Turning To Brazil For Rare Earth Minerals, Raising Environmental Concerns 

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Brazil is emerging as an alternative to China’s dominance when it comes to rare earth minerals, leading to a global race to secure the materials that are used for nearly everything. From clean energy resources, smart technology, medical equipment, batteries, lights, and so much more, having access to these minerals is integral for nearly every industry. 

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wildfires

Effects Of Europe And North America Wildfires Could Last For Years

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Wildfires across the globe have been rampant this summer, and are being fueled by the impact of climate change. These fires have forced thousands of individuals to flee their homes while they destroy forests, buildings, and dried out land. Experts are now looking at wildfires from years ago to prepare for the lasting effects of the blazes currently occurring throughout Europe and North America. 

This season, about 1,000 fires have been reported in the boreal forests of Canada, leading to a multitude of evacuations in both Canada and US cities as toxic smoke spreads in the air. 

The US is also experiencing a third major heatwave within a month that is causing parched land to dry, creating a perfect environment for wildfires to ignite and spread easily. Washington, eastern Oregon, and Idaho have been experiencing fires that are so intense, plumes of smoke have reached Florida, according to reports. 

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Europe has been experiencing major wildfires all throughout the UK, France, and Spain, causing mass evacuations for over 250,000 people. 

The continuous burning of fossil fuels throughout the past decades have made the climate crisis even worse, creating fire-prone conditions around the world. Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, emphasized the severity of these extreme weather events, pointing out how “the entire Iberian peninsula is suffering the effects of the climate emergency in a very specific way.”

Scientists have been consistently raising alarms about the consistent lingering impact of wildfire smoke, which can trigger severe respiratory and cardiac problems. In fact, according to a new study recently published in JACC Journals, it’s been shown that tiny particles carried in wildfire smoke can raise the risk of hospitalization specifically in older people who might even be hundreds of miles away from the actual fires. 

“The cardiovascular toll of wildfire smoke reaches well beyond the fire lines and well beyond the day the sky turns orange,” said Kai Chen, the study’s co-author and associate professor of epidemiology at Yale’s School of Public Health. 

The wildfires that have occurred and increased within the past few years are giving scientists the data they need to better determine long-term impacts on humanity, however, the information is fairly new. One of the biggest resources for this study, and other ongoing ones, has been looking at Maui, which suffered a devastating wildfire three years ago that killed over 100 people and destroyed several thousand buildings. 

The second largest island is still suffering from the aftermath three years later. There has been a major increase in health concerns like poor lung functioning, high blood pressure, and mental health challenges, according to the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, led by researchers at the University of Hawaii and released on Monday.

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Alika Maunakea, co-director of Maui study and a professor at the school of medicine in the University of Hawaii, said that “the progress is real, and it should be recognized.”

“The biological, emotional, and social consequences of a disaster do not disappear on the same timeline as debris removal or reconstruction.”

The Maui study was conducted utilizing screenings of over 2,500 participants, and it reported that 50% of the adults experienced continuous depressive symptoms with about 20% reported experiencing post-traumatic stress. There was also severe depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms found in children and adolescents, as well as blood pressure readings and obesity levels. 

“Children may appear resilient while still carrying significant emotional and physical effects beneath the surface,” said Christopher Knightsbridge, a mental health therapist based in Lahaina, one of the towns that was widely destroyed by the fires.

“Supporting children means supporting the entire family, including their housing, food security, daily routines and access to trusted care.”

In another research paper published last year, scientists found that there was a 7% increase in mortality among older people in Southern California over a three-year period due to wildfire smoke exposure. Lara Schwarz, an environmental health scientist at UC Berkeley who led the research, recommended that “activation of public health measures such as clean air centers should not only depend on intensity of smoke, as the long-term effects can be harmful, even at low levels.” 

“As wildfires become more frequent and severe in the context of climate change, with California being at high risk, understanding how these harmful wildfires will affect us in the long term is critical to informing better public health action and response.”

Venezuela earthquake

Venezuela Coping With Environmental And Health Risks After Devastating Earthquakes 

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Venezuela experienced devastating earthquakes over a month ago, and to this day the nation is rebuilding while coping with a multitude of developing environmental and health risks.

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ai

Artificial Intelligence Is A ‘Hiroshima’-Style Threat To Humanity Without Regulations, Foreign Secretary Says 

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Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that artificial intelligence poses a “Hiroshima”-style risk to humanity if global governments do not agree to regulate and limit how it is developed and used. 

Cooper recently told the Guardian that she’s urging nations to agree on international rules for AI and believes that the issue will be dominating foreign policy over the next two years. 

In an essay recently published by the Chatham House thinktank, Cooper covered her thoughts on many global issues from the new technology to Palestine. She emphasized that the world was at a dangerous time, pointing out that the permanent withdrawal of the US from its role as global arbiter is a key to many issues. 

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The foreign secretary spoke in another interview about her biggest concerns regarding AI and the Palestine peace process specifically. 

“On nuclear, international agreement came only after the world saw the terrifying power of the new technology at Hiroshima – and asked what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands. We cannot afford to wait for an AI equivalent of Hiroshima before we act.”

“Across the world, people are feeling the same thing – there is amazing potential here, but there is also huge risk,” Cooper told the Guardian. 

“We are already in a world where we have malign actors who will use technology against us – whether that be hybrid threats, whether that be state-backed criminal groups or other kinds of organizations, or extremists and terror groups.”

“I think AI is going to end up being the dominant foreign policy issue that we deal with over the next two years,” she added. 

Cooper said AI is just one area that is threatening global security currently, adding that the climate crisis, irregular migration, and foreign interference on western liberal democracy are also adding to international hazards.

Her essay clearly laid her own worldview and where she thinks her department should devote its attention to in the coming years. 

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Cooper also wrote that European powers need to adjust to the idea that the US will no longer guarantee international peace and democracy due to its current administration. Even after Donald Trump’s presidency, foreign bodies need to pay attention to the lasting impact, she explained.

“We should no longer expect the US to play the role it once did. There will continue to be issues where we disagree. But reduced dependence on any single ally will make us stronger.”

She also offered potential solutions to help the world’s future, such as having the UK and EU negotiate a more permanent settlement instead of attempting to renegotiate individual elements of trading arrangements multiple times. 

The government is also working on finalizing the latest round of EU renegotiation as ministers look to meet new deals on agriculture, electricity trading, and visas for young people. These were meant to be announced at a summit later this month, but were pushed back as EU officials hope to engage with the incoming Burnham government first. 

“We need to develop a new, structured relationship with Europe, leading the development of its new security architecture, with a more European Nato at its core. And we must settle our relationship with the EU as a closer but stable partnership, rather than one based on endless incremental bargaining,” Cooper wrote in her essay. 

sxsw

US Political Commentator And Twitch Streamer, Hasan Piker, Denied Entry To UK 

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Hasan Piker, a liberal political commentator and Twitch streamer with over 2.8 million followers, was due to speak with fellow online commentator Cenk Uygur at the SXSW London festival and an event in Oxford. However, both creators have now been blocked from entering the United Kingdom with the Home Office revoking their visas.

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ebola

World Health Organization Chief Is ‘Deeply Concerned About Scale And Speed’ Of Ebola Outbreak 

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The World Health Organization’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that he was “deeply concerned about the scale and speed of” the recent outbreak of a rare type of Ebola in eastern Congo.

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Canadian Prime Minister

Canadian Prime Minister Says Europe Will Not Submit To ‘An Insular And Brutal World’

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A recent meeting of the European Political Community took place over renewed doubts about the United States’ commitment to Nato. Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, became the first representative of a non-European country to participate in the meeting. 

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wolf

South Korea’s Runaway Wolf, Neukgu, Returned To Zoo After Nine-Day Search 

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South Korea has been engaged in a nine-day internet journey following the escape of a runaway wolf from the O-World zoo in Daejeon. The epic saga has officially concluded as the 2-year-old wolf was safely captured on Friday and returned to captivity. 

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The male wolf named Neukgu burrowed out of his enclosure on April 8th, prompting an immediate search that quickly became viral in the nation while spiking fears about his safety. Neukgu became an internet celebrity with users constantly refreshing their timelines for updates and clues about the young wolf’s whereabouts. 

Animal rights activists were worried about Neukgu’s ability to survive in the wild and whether or not he would be killed upon capture, as back in 2018 an escaped puma from the same zoo was unfortunately killed when it was apprehended. 

President Lee Jae Myung made a statement to help reassure the public that police, fire officials, and the military were doing their best to capture the wolf safely and keep him alive, according to reports.

Tensions rose when authorities almost captured Neukgu after he was spotted on a mountain near the zoo in the beginning of the week, however, he quickly broke away from the perimeter that rescue workers set up. A driver also posted how he saw the wolf on a dark mountainous road. 

Neukgu was finally spotted, tranquilized, and safely retrieved on a hill close to the expressway after hours-long searches involving droves, police, emergency workers, and veterinarians concluded, according to city and zoo officials. 

The young wolf was said to be in stable condition after being returned to the zoo after he was checked out by veterinarians, who also stated they had to remove a fishing hook from his stomach. Other than that, he was said to have no other serious health issues. 

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Daejeon officials also eased the public by sharing videos on social media showing rescuers pulling the limp wolf from a ditch and placing him in a carrier before his medical examinations. 

South Korea’s social media exploded with celebratory posts and “welcome back” messages for Neukgu. 

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo posted on Facebook to express his “deepest gratitude to citizens of Daejeon and also the entire nation for your support in ensuring Neukgu’s safe return.”

This is not Neukgu’s first time in the spotlight either. He was born at the zoo back in 2024, becoming a third-generation descendent of a group of wolves that was brought in from Russia in 2008 in an attempt to reintroduce wolves that resembled those that used to live in the Korean wild before they went extinct in the 1960s. 

Director of O-World, Lee Kwan Jong, said that Neukgu will now be kept in a separate area away from other animals while he receives care until he is fully recovered and stable. 

Jong stated that the zoo is currently reviewing its security measures while they prioritize Neukgu’s recovery. He is expected to be quite the celebrity when the zoo reopens.