The Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, has published a series of extremely important information for millions of parents, teachers and students from all over Romania, and this is because the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Performance (IEA) launched on December 4, 2024 the international report Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study ( TIMSS 2023). The study, carried out in Romania by the University of Bucharest with funding from the Ministry of Education, brings positive news for Romanian students and the education system.
Minister of Education officially transmits that, at the level of the 130th grades, Romania participated with a large sample of 156 schools, 3.559 primary education teachers and 526 students. The performances of the Romanian students were remarkable: they obtained 32 points in mathematics, 494 points above the international average of 2011. Compared to 60, the average score is 94 points higher. Also, 16% of the students reached at least the minimum level of competence, and XNUMX% were placed at the most advanced level.
In the field of sciences, fourth grade students recorded an average score of 526 points, 21 points more than in 2011. 93% of Romanian students reached at least the minimum level of competence, and 10% excelled , being employed at the most advanced level of performance.
The Minister of Education points out that, at the secondary level, Romania participated with 128 schools, 129 math teachers, 285 science teachers and 3.722 496th grade students. The average score obtained in mathematics was 478 points, exceeding the international average of 18 by 2019 points. This represents a significant increase compared to 18, when the average was lower by 83 points. 9% of the students reached at least the minimum level of competence, and XNUMX% reached the most advanced level of performance.
Regarding the sciences, the performances were below the international average. Romanian students obtained 466 points, 12 points below the international average of 478. The average score was 4 points lower than in 2019. However, 79% of the students reached the minimum level of competence, and 16% were assigned to advanced level.
The Minister of Education welcomed the progress made, emphasizing the importance of investments in mathematical and scientific education. "The results of Romanian students in mathematics are improving. The significant progress of fourth grade students is gratifying, but in the medium term it is important to increase the proportion of those who reach a more advanced level of competence. At the same time, the study confirms the fact that we need to invest more in mathematical and scientific education at the gymnasium", declared Ligia Deca.
Ligia Deca highlighted the role of government programs such as the Resilience Scholarships, the National School Dropout Reduction Program (PNRAS), remedial learning and teacher training for functional literacy. "Mathematical and scientific education is essential for the future of our young people and of Romania", she concluded.
The TIMSS study is organized once every four years and compares the students' math and science (biology, physics, chemistry) skills. In Romania, TIMSS 2023 was conducted by the Educational Testing Laboratory within the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Bucharest, with the support of the Ministry of Education, through the Externally Funded Project Management Unit (UMPFE) and the ROSE project.
