Maths and science levels plummet among Flemish students, global study shows
The quality of education in Flanders continues to decline, according to an international study comparing the performance of fourth-grade students in maths and science in 64 countries. The achievements of Flemish pupils have dropped in both subjects since the previous assessment four years ago.
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) shows that Flemish pupils have experienced the sharpest decline globally since 2015. In maths, Flanders ranks 24th, down from 17th in 2019. This marks a continued downward trend. Fewer students are achieving advanced levels (7 per cent) and more are failing to meet basic standards (5 per cent).
In science, Flanders remains in 35th place, with only 2 per cent of pupils reaching advanced proficiency and 12 per cent falling below the basic level - a threefold increase since 2015. Pupils in French-speaking Belgium were assessed in the study for the first time in the latest report. The Wallonia-Brussels Federation ranks 38th in science and 40th in maths.
Gender gap
Language and socioeconomic factors play a role in these trends. In Flanders, pupils who speak Dutch at home score significantly higher in both subjects than pupils who speak another language at home. Additionally, the gender gap persists, with boys outperforming girls in both subjects, while students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds consistently lag behind their peers.
Education minister Zuhal Demir of right-wing N-VA called the findings “frustrating” and stressed the need for early intervention. She announced plans to introduce minimum educational standards starting in pre-school, focusing on maths, vocabulary and science. She also urged a return to basics and reforms to teacher training programmes to emphasise subject content and classroom management.
TIMSS 2023 is the eighth assessment cycle of the study. It was conducted among pupils in the fourth and eighth grades in 64 countries and six benchmarking systems. Inaugurated in 1995, TIMSS has been carried out every four years since.
#FlandersNewsService | Illustration © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR
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