South Africa Ranks LAST Globally in Mathematics & Science Despite Having Older Students

South Africa Ranks Last in Global Mathematics and Science Despite Older Students

South African students have finished last in the world in mathematics and science, according to the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The results are especially sobering because South Africa entered older students—grade 5 learners for the fourth-grade assessment and grade 9 learners for the eighth-grade assessment—to match international standards. Despite this adjustment, South African students still fell significantly behind.

TIMSS, the most extensive global study on education trends, assessed learners in 59 countries. South Africa’s average scores of 362 in mathematics and 308 in science were the lowest of all participants. The international averages were 503 for mathematics and 494 for science.

Singapore led both categories, scoring 615 in mathematics and 607 in science. South Africa’s averages of 362 in mathematics and 308 in science were the lowest among the 59 participating countries.

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Department of Education Reacts

Dr Reginah Mhaule, Deputy Minister of Basic Education, expressed deep concern over the results during a press briefing.

“The TIMSS results are disappointing, but they reflect the realities of our education system. While there are pockets of progress, the overall outcomes show that foundational literacy and numeracy are areas where we must urgently focus our efforts.”

Dr Mhaule highlighted that the government has already initiated interventions to address the deficiencies.

“We have been rolling out structured lesson plans, early-grade reading programmes, and teacher training. These are long-term strategies that we believe will yield results over time.”

Mark Chetty, the Department of Basic Education’s Director for National Assessments, elaborated on the significance of the study.

“TIMSS is a diagnostic tool that allows us to see where we stand globally, but more importantly, it helps us identify gaps and areas that need intervention,” he said.

South Africa Ranks Last in Global Mathematics and Science Despite Older Students — [Image Credit: Unicef]

Older Learners Struggled to Keep Up

Despite entering older students in the assessment to align with international standards, South Africa’s scores were still well below the next-lowest performers, Kuwait, which scored 382 in mathematics and 373 in science.

Dr Mhaule acknowledged this disparity and attributed it to systemic issues.

“The decision to assess older students was not about making excuses. It was about ensuring fairness in curriculum alignment. However, it is clear that we need a more fundamental overhaul of how we teach mathematics and science,” she said.

The department acknowledged that persistent inequalities in resource allocation, overcrowded classrooms, and limited access to quality teaching materials are key contributors to the poor outcomes.

“Rural and disadvantaged schools face the brunt of these challenges,” added Chetty. “Without targeted interventions in these areas, the gap will only widen.”

Challenges Beyond the Curriculum

Educational experts have pointed out that South Africa’s challenges are not limited to curriculum alignment.

Many cited socio-economic factors, such as poverty, malnutrition, and a lack of parental involvement, as significant barriers to student performance.

“We need to address the broader ecosystem that impacts learning,” said Dr Mhaule. “From improving teacher support to ensuring learners have access to nutritious meals, these are the areas where our focus should lie.”

She emphasised that the TIMSS results were not an indictment of learners or teachers but rather a call to action. “This is an opportunity for us to recommit to the vision of an equitable and high-quality education system.”