DUBAI: The UAE has emerged as a leader in the Arab world in the TIMSS 2023 International Report, which evaluates student progress in grades 4 and 8 in science and mathematics. Conducted every four years, the study saw participation from over 64 countries globally.
The report was unveiled on December 4 at Dubai’s Museum of the Future in collaboration with IEA, the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Centre at Boston College, and the UAE Ministry of Education. The event, live-streamed internationally, showcased data crucial for shaping educational policy.
The ceremony featured opening remarks from Dr. Thierry Rocher and a presentation by Professor Matthias von Davier, highlighting the report’s findings. Dr. Dirk Hastedt also shared actionable insights for educational improvement.
Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, UAE Minister of Education, praised the remarkable achievements of Emirati students. She attributed this success to the Ministry’s strategic efforts to enhance performance in global assessments. Al Amiri underscored the importance of such studies for tracking educational progress and steering systemic development.
The UAE demonstrated significant progress compared to the TIMSS 2019 results. Fourth-grade students improved by 17 points in mathematics and 22 points in science, while eighth graders achieved a 15-point rise in mathematics and 14 in science.
Globally, the TIMSS 2023 report revealed that many fourth and eighth-grade students met or exceeded low international benchmarks in mathematics and science. However, it noted widening gender disparities in fourth-grade mathematics performance since 2019. A strong link between home resources and academic achievement was also observed.
TIMSS and PIRLS, international assessments by IEA, continue to provide critical insights into global education trends, fostering efforts to enhance student learning outcomes worldwide.
