Release of the TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science

The TIMSS 2019 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science is now available at timssandpirls.bc.edu/timss2019/encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia describes the education systems of the TIMSS 2019 countries, and is an essential qualitative counterpart to the international achievement results (forthcoming, December 8, 2020). Each participating country has its own chapter in the Encyclopedia, authored by a country representative. Each country’s chapter describes various aspects of their education system, including the content of mathematics and science curriculum, methods of monitoring student progress, professional development opportunities for teachers, and topical education initiatives.

The Encyclopedia also features a series of exhibits that provide at-a-glance comparative figures of education systems around the world. The exhibits touch on a variety of features of education systems, including years of compulsory schooling, languages of instruction, instructional time devoted to mathematics and science instruction in each grade, and national examination policies, among other things.

The information provided in the Encyclopedia contextualizes the achievement results, allowing for a richer understanding of the factors that support student performance. The Encyclopedia allows readers to take a granular look at specific education systems, as well as make broad global comparisons.