The learning performance of Flemish 4th-grade pupils in science and maths has deteriorated sharply according to the new international TIMSS survey. Compared to 2015 Flanders the strongest decline of any region for both subjects was recorded in Flanders. The number of top performers has fallen, while the number of pupils failing basic levels is rising.
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TIMSS education survey: Flemish pupils record sharpest drop of all regions for maths and science
Colin Clapson
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‘It’s frustrating for our pupils and teachers,’ says Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir (Flemish nationalist/N-VA). In 2019, the disappointing results of Flemish pupils in the 4th grade were called a wake-up call. The results of this new survey show a further deterioration.
Every four years, Flemish fourth-grade pupils receive an international report: the TIMSS survey measures nearly 360,000 pupils' knowledge of mathematics and science. In total, 58 countries or education regions participate. In Flanders, 146 schools were involved.
Maths results: from the lead group to a middling position in 20 years
In 2003, Flanders was still in the lead group for maths. Today, we are ranked 24th. Asia dominates the top 5 with Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. Neighbouring countries like the Netherlands (13th place) and Germany (21st place) are higher in the ranking than Flanders and retain their position compared to four years ago.
Wallonia on 40th place and France on 42nd place are still well behind us. Internationally, Flanders remains above average, but has now dipped below the European average.
Differences between pupils: growing gender gap
Not only are there differences between participating countries and regions, performance can also vary widely within the Flemish pupil population.
Flemish boys score higher than girls in both maths and science. It’s a difference that has almost always been there, although it is greater now than in previous editions of the survey.
Pupils with a low socio-economic status achieve lower performances, but this correlation - at least for maths - is less strong than in other countries. Pupils who always speak Dutch at home also do better, although they have experienced the greatest decline.
Almost a third (31 per cent) of Flemish pupils say they do not like maths. That is more than the international average. Just as many pupils like maths a lot, but here Flanders scores under the average. In science, however, the group that likes the subject a lot (41%) is larger than the group that does not (25%).