Ranking 6th in mathematics, 12th in science globally
The Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) said in a statement yesterday that the results in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023 showed that Macau’s Primary Four (P4) students performed well in maths and science, with the average scores being 582 in maths and 536 in science, respectively ranking them at 6th and 12th among the participating countries and regions in the study.
Singapore took the top spots in both subjects.
The statement said that TIMSS, a study by the Amsterdam-based International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), has been held every four years since 1995, with 2023 marking the first time that Macau entered its primary four students.
The statement noted that the bureau had organised over 5,500 P4 students from 59 local schools to participate in the 2023 study, adding that among the over 60 participating countries and regions, the average score of Macau’s students in both subjects was “significantly higher than the international medians (503 in mathematics and 494 in science)”.
Moreover, the statement said that according to the results, the local government has “provided high-quality and equitable education to its students”. The statement added that “the score gaps in mathematics and science between the two groups of students from high and low socioeconomic backgrounds in Macau (59 points for both mathematics and science) were lower than the international averages (85 and 91 points for mathematics and science respectively)”, with the gaps being “the narrowest among the high-performing countries or regions”, the statement said.
This shows that the local education system has remained “high-quality and equitable”, according to the statement.
The statement added that the percentages of local students reaching all four International Benchmarks were “significantly higher than the international medians”. The statement added that 68 percent of local students reached the Advanced or High International Benchmark in Mathematics, while 45 percent reached the Advanced or High International Benchmark in Science, with both percentages being higher than the international medians of 42 and 38 percent respectively.
Meanwhile, the statement said that the results also showed that Macau’s school campus environment is “generally safe, orderly and with good discipline”. It also highlighted that family support students receive has “an important impact on their future physical and mental development and academic achievements”, with the bureau noting that parents should therefore be more involved in their children’s educational activities by participating in them to help promote their child’s overall development.
The bureau, according to the statement, will conduct an in-depth review of Macau’s results and hold activities such as explanatory sessions for schools and study results sessions to let the education sector understand them and “explore ways to improve students’ mathematics and science abilities”.
This image provided by the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) yesterday shows the results of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023.
