According to research by the School of Education, more than 70% of students from sixth grade to fifth year of high school fail in math and verbal skills, and their average grade barely exceeds 7 points out of 20. Photo: UCAB.
Guacamaya, May 3, 2025. The Online Knowledge Assessment System (SECEL) of the Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB) has revealed alarming data on the academic performance of Venezuelan students during the 2023-2024 period. This report, coordinated by professors José Javier Salas and Lizette Martínez, indicates that knowledge and comprehension levels in fundamental areas such as Mathematics and Verbal Skills have shown a progressive decline.
With overall averages barely surpassing 7.5 out of 20 in these areas, the study confirms a persistent negative trend over the last five years. The research, which involved over 10,000 tests administered across different regions of the country, assessed students from sixth grade of primary school through the fifth year of secondary school.
SECEL’s findings not only highlight the structural difficulties of Venezuela’s education system but also shed light on the causes behind the current educational crisis. Factors such as school dropout rates, low-quality education, the impact of the economic crisis, and the lack of effective public policies affect students at all academic levels.
A Grim Educational Outlook
The overall results of the SECEL 2023-2024 report confirm severe deficiencies in fundamental competencies necessary for the academic and professional development of Venezuelan primary and secondary students. The assessments yielded an average score of 7.51 out of 20 in Mathematics and 7.84 out of 20 in Verbal Skills—grades far below the passing threshold of 10.
A concerning finding is the drop of more than one point in the Verbal Skills average compared to the previous school year, suggesting a progressive deterioration rather than improvement in communication abilities. Additionally, for the first time, the report included a section specifically dedicated to Reading Comprehension, where the overall average was 7.61 out of 20.
The data becomes even more alarming when examining failure rates. According to the report, 74.93% of all evaluated students failed the Mathematics test, while 70.10% did not pass the Verbal Skills assessment. In Reading Comprehension, 70.64% of students scored below the passing grade.
These figures reveal that approximately seven out of every ten Venezuelan students lack the minimum required competencies in fundamental areas like mathematics and language. This raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the current education system and its implications for the country’s future socioeconomic development.
The Public-Private Divide
While SECEL’s data indicates poor results overall, there is a marked performance gap between public and private institutions. Private schools show a slight advantage over public ones. However, the report emphasizes that low performance is a widespread issue in both sectors.
In Mathematics, private school students averaged 7.74 out of 20, while those in public or subsidized schools scored 5.84—a nearly two-point difference. The failure rate rises to 92.09% in public institutions, compared to 72.68% in private ones.
In Verbal Skills, private school students averaged 8.02 points, while those in public or subsidized institutions scored 6.70. The failure rate was 86.21% in the public sector, compared to 67.25% in the private sector.
Similarly, in Reading Comprehension, private school students averaged 7.78 points, while public or subsidized school students scored 6.62. The failure rate was 80.55% in public schools, compared to 68.86% in private ones.
Factors Contributing to the Educational Crisis
The SECEL 2023-2024 report identifies several factors contributing to the poor performance of Venezuelan students. Among the structural causes are low teacher salaries, a shortage of qualified personnel, the need for professional development, poor school infrastructure, and curricula that fail to meet current demands.
“We are moving backward. It gets worse every year, but the typical variables are still there. These issues must be addressed and prioritized,” emphasized expert José Javier Salas, the study’s coordinator.
Beyond traditional factors, Salas urged an examination of emerging variables negatively impacting academic performance. These include the influence of entertainment and digital media, which act as “significant distractions” for students.
Another concerning factor is the lack of interest in academic excellence among many students, particularly in their final years of secondary school. These students often aim only for the minimum passing grade and do not view school as preparation for adulthood.
Additionally, the disconnect between formal education and students’ perceived reality poses a fundamental challenge for Venezuela’s education system. Consequently, the system must adapt to the needs and expectations of new generations without abandoning its educational mission.
A Problem Beyond Borders
The SECEL report notes that learning setbacks are not unique to Venezuela but have also appeared in various Latin American and Caribbean countries. The document references the 2022 PISA report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which showed academic declines in 12 countries in the region.
“The global average in mathematics fell by nearly 15 percentage points compared to 2018. In Spanish, the average dropped by just over 10 points,” states the SECEL 2023-2024 report.
This regional perspective suggests that the educational crisis stems from factors beyond national specifics, possibly linked to global trends. These may include the impact of digital technologies on study habits, residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and changes in social and family dynamics.
Recommendations and Improvement Proposals
UCAB specialists presented several proposals to address the poor academic performance highlighted in the report. Among the key suggestions is the importance of fostering individual work in the classroom, given the growing relevance of this strategy in countering students’ excessive use of digital media.
The report notes that activities such as oral presentations, debates, mind maps, and defenses are effective tools for promoting individual academic production, stimulating creativity, and reinforcing fundamental values in students.
Additionally, the report recommends greater emphasis on teaching geometry and statistics within mathematics to strengthen key knowledge. The study’s coordinator stressed the need for teacher training to improve pedagogical practices and subject-matter expertise.
“You cannot teach what you do not know. Many teachers are unaware of their own limitations or do not fully grasp what they are explaining, which directly affects learning,” Salas stated.
Professor Salas announced that the Online Knowledge Assessment System will be available to public, subsidized, and private institutions from June to November, encouraging students to take the tests. This initiative represents a valuable opportunity for schools to obtain precise diagnostics of their students’ learning levels.
*(With information from El Diario, El Ucabista, and the SECEL/UCAB 2024 Report)*
