The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in the International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), with its results increasing by 19 points to 449, compared to 430 points achieved in 2011 and 2016.

PIRLS, which is conducted by the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), takes place once every five years. The study aims to assess the reading comprehension skills of fourth-grade students, a stage where students transition from learning to read and write to using these skills for learning purposes. The study compares the results with students from approximately 60 other participating countries.

In the 2021 edition of the study, which took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kingdom ranked among the top five countries in terms of growth in results compared to the previous edition in 2016. Furthermore, the study revealed a reduction in the gender gap between boys and girls in the Kingdom. In the 2021 edition, the gap decreased from nearly 64 points (the largest gender gap among all countries) to 36 points.

The Kingdom’s participation in the study began in 2011, followed by subsequent participation in 2016 and 2021, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The next study is scheduled to be held in 2026.

The IEA is an international cooperative organization composed of national research institutions, government research agencies, and researchers and analysts dedicated to researching, understanding, and improving education worldwide

Source: Saudi Press Agency