Anne Will and sociologist Aladin El-Mafaalani discuss the historic low PISA results for German 15-year-olds, which have fallen below the 2001 baseline. They analyze how digitalization, changing poverty dynamics, and a pervasive societal pessimism have eroded basic competencies in reading and math. The conversation highlights that the decline originates in primary school, where foundational skills are not adequately supported, and argues that this educational deficit poses a significant threat to democratic participation and social cohesion.
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