STUDY reveals math and science in South Africa is falling behind

The state of math and science in South Africa should be of ‘grave concern’ to educators, says Minister Siviwe Gwarube. This statement follows the release of the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), reports BusinessLive.

The TIMSS study evaluates the performance of pupils across 44 countries every four years. However, in South Africa’s top-performing provinces – Western Cape and Gauteng – scores dropped from 370 in 2019 to 362 in 2023. Similarly, pupils evaluated in science declined from 324 in 2019 to 308 in 2023.

MATH AND SCIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA

It is this lacklustre performance in math and science in South Africa that inspired Ford Motor Company. This year the vehicle manufacturer completed its 100th math and science lab for underprivileged schools across the country as part of its centenary celebrations (in 2023). The minister of basic education reiterated the divide between well-resourced schools, often in affluent areas versus poorer schools in disadvantaged communities. Saying the recent TIMSS was as a mirror reflecting the country’s educational inequalities.

“These results are forcing the country to take a long, hard look at ourselves and come face-to-face with the truth that our educational outcomes are deeply uneven. Despite post-apartheid reforms aimed at redressing our inequalities, the education system still remains highly unequal, with well-resourced schools outperforming poorly resourced schools in marginalised areas,” says the minister.

LACKING FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS

According to the minister, many children advance through school without ever mastering foundational skills – especially in math and science in South Africa. “These deficits accumulate over time, limiting learners’ ability to succeed in higher grades. In turn this diminishes their prospects of accessing further education and employment opportunities,” says Gwarube.

Likewise, language barriers, lack of infrastructure, teaching materials and teacher development are holding back quality basic education. Moreover, the TIMSS results highlight the direct connection between teacher absenteeism and poor academic outcomes. “The Eastern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces reported higher learner and teacher absenteeism levels than any other provinces,” the minister said.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Although TIMSS has exposed the serious challenges facing South Africa’s education system, it also provides an opportunity for betterment. In response to these findings about math and science in South Africa, the department has announced the following initiatives:

• A new National Education and Training Council will improve the way the curriculum is delivered.
• New models for improved funding of public schools will be explored.
• Introduction of a new mother-tongue bilingual-based education (MTBBE) system.  
• The department will focus heavily on early childhood development (ECD) centres.

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