PISA results show 42 percent of Faroese ninth-graders cannot understand texts

Forty-two percent of ninth-grade students in the Faroe Islands have non-functional reading skills, according to the latest PISA assessment, reported by Kringvarp Føroya (KVF).

The result means that four in 10 students can barely read texts and do not understand their content. This is also affecting their ability to learn other subjects, KVF reported.

Reading skills have declined sharply in recent years. The Faroe Islands have not recorded so many weak readers in ninth grade since PISA assessments began 20 years ago.

The assessment was conducted last year and its results were announced on Tuesday. KVF also broadcast a report and an interview with Bárður á Lakjuni, the minister responsible for education.