Majority of Vietnamese teens lack practical reading skills, OECD finds

A comprehensive global study has revealed significant shortcomings in reading comprehension among Vietnamese adolescents, with 59 percent unable to apply their knowledge to real-world contexts. The findings, drawn from the OECD's assessment of 15-year-olds across multiple nations, indicate that a majority of Vietnamese students struggle to extract meaning from texts and utilize information effectively in practical scenarios. This gap between theoretical knowledge and functional literacy poses challenges for educational outcomes and future workforce preparedness. The assessment measures whether students can comprehend written material and leverage that understanding to solve problems and navigate everyday situations—competencies increasingly vital in modern societies. Vietnamese educators and policymakers are likely to examine the results closely as the nation continues to prioritize improvements in its education system. The OECD data underscores the need for enhanced instructional strategies and support mechanisms to help students develop stronger reading comprehension skills and boost their capacity to apply learning across diverse situations.