The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) released the results of the 2015 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) study on 29 November 2016. TIMSS is a cross-national assessment of the mathematics and science levels of learners from the various participating countries. TIMSS was developed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to allow participating nations to compare learner educational achievement across borders.
Media statements for the TIMSS grades 5 and 9 studies are available for download below:
The highlights reports with details of the survey can be downloaded from the TIMSS SA website:
TIMSS was first administered in South Africa in 1995 and has continued to be administered in 1999, 2003, 2011 and 2015. Around of 12 500 learners and 330 mathematics and science teachers from 292 schools participated in the study. The HSRC analysed South African performance, in TIMSS 2015 at the Grade 9 level, relative to other countries and examined the trends in mathematics and science achievement from 2003 to 2015. These results are important to track educational progress and the health of the education sector and to identify interventions that need to be put in place to ensure improvements.
For the first time South African Grade 5 learners participated in TIMSS. The results for this benchmarking assessment will also be presented.
The Minister and Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga and Mr Enver Surty, will be attending the release of the TIMSS results at an event in Pretoria, to which the media are invited to attend, after which a special media question and answer session with the Ministers and the HSRC will take place at the GCIS Head Office Press Room in Pretoria and a video link will be provided to connect with the GCIS Imbizo Media Centre in Cape Town.
RELEASE EVENT
DATE: 29 November 2016
TIME: 09h00 for 10h00 until 12h00
VENUE: DBE Conference Centre, 222 Struben Street, Pretoria
(Visitors parking on the corner of Bloed and Paul Kruger Streets)
MEDIA BRIEFING
DATE: 29 November 2016
TIME: 12h30 for 13h00
VENUE (PRETORIA): GCIS Head Office Press Room, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Frances Baard Street, Hatfield (corner of Festival Street)
VENUE (CAPE TOWN):GCIS Imbizo Media Centre, Parliament of South Africa, 120 Plein Street, Cape Town
Enquiries:
Elijah Mhlanga – 083 580 8275
Troy Martens – 079 899 3070
HSRC: Adziliwi Nematandani – 0827659191
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION AND HSRC