Details
- Identification
- ISBN: 978-92-68-28598-5, DOI: 10.2766/7394401, Catalogue number: NC-01-25-103-EN-N
- Publication date
- 7 November 2025
- Authors
- Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture | Expert Network on Economics and Sociology of Education and Training (ENESET)
- Geographical scope
- European Union
- Level of education focus
- School education
- Thematic areas covered
- Skills development
Description
In recent years, growing concerns over declining academic outcomes, particularly among top-performing students, have intensified the need for education policies that promote excellence alongside equity. International assessments such as PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) 2022 show not only a decline in mean scores, but also a shrinkage in the share of high achievers – raising concerns over the future of innovation, social mobility and national competitiveness. This report provides a systematic review of the literature on experimental and quasi-experimental research to identify evidence of effective, efficient and equitable policies and practices that foster excellence in basic skills – especially among high-achieving students aged 6 to 15 in mathematics, reading and science.
Authors:
KAIRE PÕDER, Professor of Economics, Head of Applied Economics and Policy Research Group, Estonian Business School
TRIIN LAURI, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the School of Governance, Law and Society at Tallinn University
FAISAL MOHAMMED, Junior researcher affiliated to Applied Economics and Policy Research Group, Estonian Business School
NILAY RAMMUL, Junior researcher affiliated to Applied Economics and Policy Research Group, Estonian Business School
Cite this publication as:
Põder, K., Lauri, T., Mohammed, F., and Rammul, N. (2025). Effective measures to promote excellence in basic skills, ENESET report, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. doi: 10.2766/7394401
