PUTRAJAYA: Losing out on two years of face-to-face learning has caused Malaysia’s performance to drop in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023 assessment.
This can also be seen in the results of many of the other 34 countries, which also took in the 2019 edition of the assessment, with only three seeing an overall improvement in Mathematics and Science.
The average Mathematics score of Malaysian students in TIMSS 2023 dropped to 411 compared to TIMSS 2019, when it was 461 – a difference of 50 points.
A total of 126 students achieved the highest international benchmark level with an average score of 625 points and above.
As for Science, the average score of students is 426, a decrease of 39 points from 465 in 2019.
A total of 104 students achieved the highest benchmark level with an average score of 625 points and above.
Internationally, the global average for both assessments experienced a decline and currently stands at 472. This is a drop from the 2019 averages, which were 500 for Mathematics and Science.
Education director-general Azman Adnan said the percentage of Mathematics and Science achievement in TIMSS 2023 gave the impression that students lack knowledge and basic concepts of the subjects from primary to secondary school.
“The TIMSS 2023 sample students were in Years Five and Six during the school closure and attendance rotation period during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said during a special briefing on the results yesterday.
He said that the ministry is taking steps to address the root causes of the drop, which include a lack of strong digital skills.
This includes targeted intervention for Year Four, Five and Six pupils, who have not grasped the basics of Mathematics and Science prior to their transition to secondary school, as well as the training of teachers.
TIMSS is an international-level study held every four years that focuses on Mathematics and Science assessments.
Malaysia has participated seven times since 1999.
