El Salvador’s use of artificial intelligence in public education is showing promising early results, with students in a 171-school pilot achieving performance comparable to the PISA 2022 averages of Sweden and Germany.
The findings come from a PISA for Schools assessment conducted by the OECD in June 2026, evaluating students participating in El Salvador’s education modernization initiative. The program has incorporated AI-powered tutors alongside teacher support, learning materials, continuous assessment, and classroom monitoring.
According to the World Bank’s Latin America and Caribbean division, the results demonstrate the potential of education reform when evidence-based teaching practices and technology are effectively integrated into classroom instruction. The institution emphasized that the findings represent the participating schools rather than the entire Salvadoran education system, while highlighting the significant progress achieved within the pilot.
The initiative has already expanded substantially since the assessment. What began in 171 public schools more than a year ago has now reached more than 1,000 schools, with the government planning to extend the modernization program to all public schools in El Salvador within 18 months.
Artificial intelligence is a central component of the strategy, supporting educators and helping strengthen the learning process through personalized assistance and continuous monitoring of student progress.
President Nayib Bukele described the results as an early indication of the potential of the initiative, arguing that El Salvador’s transformation can extend beyond security into education and human capital development.
The World Bank has expressed support for the expansion of the modernization process, noting that strengthening education and human capital will be fundamental to creating greater opportunities for Salvadoran children and young people.
With the program moving from a limited pilot toward nationwide implementation, El Salvador is positioning AI-powered education as a key element of its long-term strategy to improve learning outcomes and prepare a new generation for the future.