Filipino students still rate low in math, science

Filipino students are still weak in math and science, according to results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study-Repeat (TIMSS-R).

A report of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said that the 6,601 Filipino students who took the TIMSS last year ranked 36th in both science and mathematics tests out of a field of 38 countries.

The DOST revealed that Filipino participants garnered a score of 349 and 350 in science and math respectively, way below the international average of 489 in both subjects.

"In terms of content area, our students’ best performance in science was in Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry, and lowest... was in Life Science," the DOST statement said.

In the mathematics test, it noted, Filipino students did best in Data Representation, Analysis and Probability, and poorest in Algebra.

TIMMS is the largest international study of student achievement ever undertaken. It is administered to students in the third, fourth, seventh, eighth and 12th grades.

When TIMMS was first conducted in 1995 among 42 countries, the Philippines placed 41st in science and 30th in mathematics. The two subjects are premium in the entrance exams to national science high schools.

"With similar results obtained in TIMMS-R, it is evident that there is no significant improvement of our students from 1995 to 1999. No immediate conclusions could be made as to the reasons behind this," DOST said.

Curiously, the study showed that Filipino students have a better attitude toward the two subjects than the international standard. But even if these students spent more time studying science and math and were more inclined to join related clubs, "this did not translate to a performance better as would have been expected."

Other Asian countries dominated the 1999 TIMMS tests. Chinese Taipei and Singapore were tops in science, followed by Hungary, Japan and South Korea. In math, Korea, Taipei and Hong Kong bagged the top scores.

But DOST said it remained confident that the performance of Filipino students will improve come 2003. "A better scenario is expected in the next TIMMS in 2003 because of major policy changes in education and science and technology interventions," the agency said.