The TIMSS 2019 cycle began early in 2018, and data was collected at the Grade 5 level the same year. The data collection for Grade 9 learners was completed in September 2019. This infographic presents an overview of the process thus far, and outlines what remains to be done before the results are released in December 2020.

TIMSS 2019 is underway! The main administration was conducted at the Grade 5 level in close to 300 schools across all nine provinces in October 2018. In 2015, Grade 5 learners were assessed only in Mathematics. For TIMSS 2019, learners were assessed in Science as well.

The legislative goals of ensuring quality education for all cannot be achieved without adequate and appropriate resources. These resources give weight to the policies, raising the odds of successful implementation. This month’s newsletter focuses on legislation, budgeting and school resources.

In the current educational climate, where schools are trying to improve learner achievement with limited resources, educator well-being may be overlooked as a ‘nice to have’ rather than as a vital component of the educational system. However, from an organisational perspective, employee well-being is an important factor for educational qualit ...

We are pleased to present the South African Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) National Reports. South Africa participated in the TIMSS for the fifth time in 2015. TIMSS assesses learners in mathematics and science, as well as exploring the relationship between school and home contexts and learner performance in these ...

School climate refers to the character and quality of social interactions which take place in schools and to the intangible elements of the school environment. School climate involves multiple dimensions (such as bullying, violence, leadership, belonging) within schools, and involves learners and teachers, as well as parents. The learning environ ...

Language plays a crucial role in learning. Learners are taught all subjects in their school’s language of learning and teaching (LoLT). Fluency of this language, especially when it is different to a learner’s home language, impacts on learners’ ability to understand concepts and to take part in classroom discussion. Language experts contin ...

Engaging in learning activities at home and in preschool, prior to entering Grade 1, is crucial for children’s cognitive, development and impacts on their achievement in school. A child’s early experiences contributes to the development of learning skills as well as social and emotional abilities. The April 2017 issue of the TIMSS newsletter ...

The National Senior Certificate examination results are used as an important barometer to evaluate progress made in the South African education system. The class of 2016 boasted an overall pass rate of 72.5%, compared to 70.7% in 2015. The first issue of 2017 focuses on the Matric results and the results of TIMSS 2015 to provide insights into th ...

South African learners have performed poorly in national and international assessments. There have been improvements over the years, but much remains to be done. What we need to understand is why learners answer questions the way they do. Diagnostic item analysis is a tool that can help us understand learners’ thinking, enabling us to identify ...