Looks like all the societal pressures of academic excellence in a paper-chasing environment like Singapore bore fruit in the form of having the highest-achieving primary and secondary students in international maths and science examinations in the world. But at what cost?
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is published by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement every four years, to assess and compare knowledge in the subjects of students around the world. The rankings are based on tests taken by over 600,000 students aged nine to 10 and 13 to 14 in 57 countries.
So far, the study is the longest running large-scale international assessment of math and science education in the world.
No doubt, the Singapore education system has done kids well in math and science. The city-state tops the rankings for primary school mathematics and science subjects, and the same goes for its secondary schools — they score better than students in Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Yes, we know it’s a stereotype that Asian kids do well in nerdy topics like math and science, but the results speak for themselves: the top places in TIMSS rankings are dominated by East Asian nations.
Singapore, in particular, has been topping the list since 1995. Primary school students here were top dogs in math in 1995, 2003 and 2011, and did the best in 1999 and 2003 for science. Secondary school pupils reigned in math in 1995, 1999 and 2003, and science in 1995, 2003, 2007, 2011.
The success of Asian countries in the rankings reflect a “culture steeped in education,” says Prof Ina Mullis, executive director of the TIMSS tests.
But a “culture steeped in education” is also a culture that’s overwhelmingly focused on achieving pure grades and high scores in exams instead of inculcating a love for learning.
In a different study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development — Education at a Glance — results show how Singapore’s efficient school system might not translate into success in higher education. In a test of literacy skills among graduates, it’s countries like Japan, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden and Australia that top the list with the most capable graduates. South Korea and Singapore may have high achievers at school level, but they are below average when it comes to advanced literacy skills.
