Survey Indicates that a Significant Number of British Adolescents Are Going Hungry Due to Financial Hardships

A survey conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) has revealed that teenagers in the UK are skipping meals more frequently due to poverty compared to many other Western European countries. The survey found that 11% of UK students reported missing at least one meal per week, while the average for countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) was 8%. The report highlights the global food crisis and the struggle of families to provide enough food, stating that even students from wealthy countries often face food insecurity. In contrast, Portugal, Finland, and the Netherlands had a much lower rate of teenagers skipping meals due to lack of money. The report emphasizes that hunger negatively impacts students' ability to learn effectively. Despite the concerning findings, the UK showed some progress in educational rankings. However, the study also revealed that the performance gap between different regions of the UK was widening, with Wales reporting its worst results and remaining the lowest performing across all subjects. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan praised the efforts of teachers and the government's drive to improve school standards. On the other hand, Welsh Education Minister Jeremy Miles attributed the decline in literacy and numeracy performance to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This Pisa survey also included a focus on student well-being and found that the UK ranked above the OECD average for food insecurity, which surprised officials. The head teacher of a Birmingham school commented that the figures were not surprising, as over two-thirds of his pupils receive free school meals. He emphasized the increasing responsibility schools have in addressing mental health and other safeguarding issues. Overall, Pisa's report highlights the decline in average scores across all subjects compared to previous years, with math scores falling since 2018 in several countries and science and reading scores declining since 2010.