Question: Why does South Africa take part in TIMSS?

Answer: Participating in TIMSS provides important information for policy makers about the state of mathematics and science education, and what is required for improving the quality of education. The assessment results therefore provide the data necessary for monitoring and attempting to improve the health of a country’s basic education system. TIMSS is a widely recognised international testing programme aimed largely at assessing whether countries are making educational progress over time. TIMSS therefore allows for trend analysis of the results which gives countries an insight into whether or not mathematics and science education is improving.