TIMSS: 63% of grade 5 pupils at SA’s public schools lack basic maths knowledge

An international education report on Tuesday revealed the shocking state of mathematics and science at South African schools.

The 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) was administered to a number of countries globally, including in South Africa, at grade 5 and 9 levels.

It found that 63% of grade 5 pupils did not acquire basic mathematics knowledge and 72% did not gain basic science knowledge.

According to the report, 41% of pupils in grade 9 had demonstrated to have basic maths knowledge and only 36% had gained basic science knowledge.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said that her department would continue to interrogate the results in order to improve the country’s education system.

“So, I’m very hopeful that we are bringing back the assessments and they are also going to guide the sector in terms of the assessment tools that are needed,” Motshekga said.

-EWN

In other news – Kelly Khumalo reacts to losing at Crown Gospel Awards

Kelly Khumalo took to social media to call out the Crown Gospel Awards for snubbing her after not taking home a trophy on the night of the glitzy event.

Even though Kelly has said many times that she’s not a gospel artist, but rather an artist who sometimes sings gospel, the singer was left in her feels when she didn’t win an award for her song Esphambanweni, featuring Hlengiwe Mhlaba. Learn More