Educational outcomes: Pathways and performance in South African high schools
South African Journal of Science
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Educational outcomes: Pathways and performance in South African high schools | |
| Creator | Reddy, Vijay van der Berg, Servaas Janse van Rensburg, Dean Taylor, Stephen | |
| Description | We analysed the pathways and performances in mathematics of high (secondary) school students in South Africa using a panel-like data set of Grade 8 students who participated in the 2002 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and who were tracked to Grade 12 examination data sets. We examined the relationship between TIMSS mathematics performance and reaching Grade 12, the selection of and performance in Grade 12 mathematics, and success rates in the matriculation examination. The progression of students from schools serving middle-class (Subsystem M) and poorer students (Subsystem P, the majority) was compared. Firstly, mathematics achievement scores in South Africa are low and different performance patterns were shown between the two subsystems. Secondly, students who started with similar Grade 8 mathematics scores had different educational outcomes 4 years later. In Subsystem M schools, Grade 8 mathematics scores were a good indicator of who would pass matric, whilst this relationship was not as strong in Subsystem P schools. Thirdly, there was a stronger association between TIMSS Grade 8 scores and subject choice of matric mathematics in Subsystem M schools than in Subsystem P schools. Fourthly, there was a strong correlation between Grade 8 mathematics performance and matric mathematics achievement. Mathematics performance in the earlier years predicted later mathematics performance. To raise exit level outcomes, mathematics scores need to be raised by Grade 8 or earlier. To improve educational and labour market outcomes, the policy priority should be to build foundational knowledge and skills in numeracy. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2012-03-14 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajs.v108i3/4.620 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Science; Vol 108, No 3/4 (2012); 8 pages 1996-7489 0038-2353 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/view/620/1119
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/view/620/1128
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/view/620/1121
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/view/620/1117
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3415
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3416
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3417
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3418
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3419
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3420
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3421
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3422
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3423
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/620/3424
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
