Mathematics and Science Achievement at South African Schools in TIMSS 2003

Education in South Africa is in crisis. Low literacy and numeracy rates, poor discipline, and a sense of despair pervade the education landscape. At the same time, educators are called upon to achieve more, with universities tasked to produce graduates capable of exercising responsible and reflective citizenship in a competitive and globalising world. However, universities face very complex demands and resource constraints. In this sobering context, this book provides an opportunity to learn from a bold experiment in teaching and learning taking place across two very different South African universities, one historically black, and one historically white and Afrikaans.

Teachers spend slightly less time on their activities overall, but much less time on teaching than policy requires. There is a serious erosion of instructional time in the majority of schools, but it is worst in rural and semi-rural African schools.

Textbooks and learning support materials are a critical resource for teachers. They play a vital role in shaping children's sense of themselves and the society in which they live. But to what extent do schoolbooks reflect images and representations of the diverse learners in South African schools?

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) assesses mathematics and science knowledge of fourth and eighth grade learners around the world. South Africa, where learners were assessed at the fifth grade, participated in TIMSS 2015, assessing mathematics; and in TIMSS 2019, assessing both mathematics and science.