Teachers Majored in Science and Science Education – Teachers’ Reports (Grade 8)
Classroom Environment
Teachers Majored in Science and Science Education
The TIMSS 2023 Teacher Questionnaire collected information about eighth-grade students’ science teachers’ majors during post-secondary education. These are reported by four categories: major in science and science education, major in science but no major in science education, major in science education but no major in science, and all other majors (Exhibit 5.1.12). The small percentage of students whose science teachers have no formal education beyond upper-secondary is also reported. Details about this index can be found in Supplement 3 of the TIMSS 2023 User Guide for the International Database. These percentages must be considered in the context of science teacher preparation within countries. More details can be found in the TIMSS 2023 Encyclopedia.
Across countries, the majority of eighth-grade students (92%) had science teachers with a major in science education, science, or both (Exhibit 5.1.13). Internationally, almost half of eighth-grade students (47%) had science teachers who majored in science but not science education. A further 34 percent of students had teachers who majored in both science education and science, and 11 percent of students had teachers who majored only in science education. Six percent of students had science teachers with other majors and only 1 percent of students had science teachers who completed no formal education beyond upper-secondary.
The average science achievement differences for students with teachers having different majors are small. Students whose teachers majored in science and science education and students whose teachers majored in science education only had very similar average science achievement (487 vs. 482). Students whose teachers majored in science but not science education had an average science achievement of 478 and students whose science teachers had other majors had an average science achievement of 472. The very small percentage of students whose science teachers did not complete formal education beyond upper-secondary had the lowest average science achievement (407).
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Teachers Majored in Science and Science Education – Teachers’ Reports
Mathematics Grade 8
Few or No Lessons
Some Lessons
Most Lessons
( ) Standard errors appear in parentheses. Because of rounding some results may appear inconsistent.
An “r” indicates data are available for at least 70% but less than 85% of the students.
An “s” indicates data are available for at least 50% but less than 70% of the students.
An “x” indicates data are available for at least 40% but less than 50% of the students—interpret with caution.
A tilde (~) indicates insufficient data to report result.
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