TIMSS 2023: MOE IDENTIFIES CHALLENGES IN MATHS, SCIENCE LEARNING AMONG STUDENTS

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Moderate and low digital self-efficacy, poor understanding of basic Mathematics and Science concepts and students’ lack of confidence in these subjects are some of the challenges identified by the Ministry of Education (MOE) through Malaysia's participation in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023.

TIMSS is an international benchmarking study that assesses Form Two students' achievement in Mathematics and Science, while also analysing data from questionnaires completed by students, schools, Mathematics and Science teachers, and curriculum experts.

According to Education director-general Azman Adnan, the findings from TIMSS 2023 revealed that students lacked knowledge of basic Mathematics and Science concepts from primary to secondary school.

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He noted that, according to the questionnaire, teachers observed that 40.8 per cent of students lacked Mathematics knowledge, while 26.5 per cent had similar difficulties in Science.

“Students also lack confidence in learning Mathematics and Science, even though they value these subjects. Seventy percent of students feel unconfident in Mathematics, while 49 per cent lack confidence in Science. This lack of confidence is associated with low achievement,” he said when announcing Malaysia’s performance in TIMSS 2023 here yesterday.

Azman said the students’ weakness in mastering knowledge, concepts, and basic skills in Mathematics and Science became more evident during school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample cohort comprised students who were in Year Five (in 2020) and Year Six (in 2021).

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The transition of TIMSS 2023 to a fully computer-based assessment revealed that students’ moderate and low digital self-efficacy was linked to their unfamiliar use of computers for answering questions, with some students struggling to operate the test equipment and applications.

Commenting on Malaysia’s performance in Mathematics and Science in TIMSS 2023, Azman said that the average Mathematics score for Malaysian students was 411 points, a decline from 461 points in TIMSS 2019, reflecting a drop of 50 points.

In Science, he said the average score was 426 points, down from 465 points in TIMSS 2019, showing a decrease of 39 points.

“Overall, there has been a decrease in the percentage of student achievement in Mathematics and Science according to international benchmarking levels, with only one percent of Malaysian students reaching the highest level in Mathematics.

“Meanwhile, 48 per cent of Malaysian students’ achievement scores are below 400 points, placing them in the category of not reaching the international benchmarking level,” he said.

Azman added that only one per cent of Malaysian students achieved the highest level in Science, while 39 per cent scored below 400 points, which was also classified as not reaching the international benchmarking level.

He said that, in general, the gap in the average Mathematics and Science scores between urban and rural pupils in TIMSS 2023 had narrowed compared to previous rounds.

“This is a positive development in creating a more inclusive and fair education system. Closing this achievement gap demonstrates that efforts to provide equal learning opportunities to all students, regardless of geographical location, have been successful.

“Some students achieved an average score of over 700 points, with the highest score ever attained by a Malaysian student being 789 points in Mathematics and 766 points in Science,” he said.

Azman said the findings would serve as a key starting point for the MOE to enhance the quality of Mathematics and Science education, particularly through Curriculum 2027, which is currently being developed.

He also outlined several follow-up measures and educational pedagogies by the MOE to improve learning outcomes and develop future talent.

These measures include initiatives by the International Benchmarking Achievement Strategic Planning Committee to design and monitor more structured and systematic interventions, enhance teacher pedagogy training, upgrade the assessment framework and release test items, as well as organise engagement sessions and a roundtable discussion on Malaysian Achievement in TIMSS.

In-service teachers will undergo training to improve their teaching professionalism, focusing on both theoretical knowledge and hands-on or experiential learning.

The computer-based TIMSS 2023 assessment in Malaysia was conducted entirely offline from Sept 4 to Oct 12, 2023, across 180 schools nationwide.

A total of 44 countries, including Malaysia, along with three TIMSS Grade Eight benchmarking participants, took part in the 2023 round, with Malaysia and Singapore being the only representatives from the region.

In TIMSS 2023, the Mathematics assessment content domain encompasses numbers, algebra, geometry and measurement, as well as data and probability, while the Science assessment includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science.

 The cognitive domains of the mathematics and science assessments in TIMSS focus on knowing, applying, and reasoning.

The TIMSS 2023 International Report is available for download on the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) website at https://www.iea.nl/studies/iea/timss, while the preliminary report on Malaysia’s achievement in TIMSS 2023 can be accessed on the MOE website at https://www.moe.gov.my starting today.

-- BERNAMA