The latest Trends in International Maths and Science Study (TIMSS) results show that South African learners performed extremely poorly in maths and science.

Local students finished second-to-last in maths and last in science for 14-year-olds. This is, however, only part of the bad news.

In South Africa, grade 9 students write exams meant for grade 8 pupils, because the assessment is deemed too difficult for local grade 8 pupils.

This means that South Africa is at the bottom of the global rankings, even though our grade nines compete against other countries’ grade eights.

These results will shock most countries and their ministers, and may even cost them their jobs.

Not in South Africa.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has celebrated the results, saying it showed South Africa has the “most improved education system in the world”.

“We are very pleased with the consistent improvements we have seen in the TIMSS results,” said Motshekga.

“This independent study gives an encouraging account of how we measure up in a widely-recognised international testing programme.”

South Africa has seen an improvement of 87 points for maths and 90 points for science, more than for any other country with comparable data.

However, South Africa has not improved its relative position (except for one place in maths) since the assessments started.

South Africa also came last out of all African countries, behind Botswana, Egypt, and Morocco.

“It is disappointing that, despite the sobering picture presented by TIMSS, Minister Motshekga is popping the champagne corks,” said the DA.

“Coming close to the bottom in the world in the 2015 TIMSS – with a score far below the world average – is hardly cause for celebration.”

The table below shows South Africa’s performance since 1995.

Year Maths Rank Science Rank 1995 Last Last 1999 Last Last 2003 Last Last 2007 Did not participate Did not participate 2011 Second-last Last 2015 Second-last Last

Now read: South Africans are dummies