Out of 58 countries, the Republic of North Macedonia ranked 45th in mathematical literacy, and 51st in natural sciences. This is what the results of the international TIMSS testing that was carried out in 2019 show, informs the Ministry of Education and Science (MES).
“Regarding mathematical literacy, countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan rank the highest. Compared to the surrounding countries, our students achieved better results than the students from Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Hercegovina. The results from the TIMSS international testing provide the true picture where our education system is on the educational global map concerning mathematics and natural sciences and how much our students are capable of using their own knowledge,” said MES.
It announced that these results will be considered in the preparation of the new concept of elementary education, and that this concept will be based upon objective and credible analyses and researches about what really should be changed, introduced or removed from the education system.
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is a series of international assessments of the mathematics and science knowledge (natural sciences, physics, chemistry, biology) of students around the world, including the factors that influence these achievements.
The international organization IEA is organizing the testing, and in our country, this testing was carried out by the State Examination Center. So far, North Macedonia has participated in four TIMSS testings – TIMSS1999, TIMSS2009, and TIMSS2011 with students from 8th grade and for TIMS2019, for the first time, it tested a population attending the 4th grade.
