Abstract
This research explored the predictive effects of school safety on science achievement among Southeast Asian eighth graders in TIMSS 2015. In this research, principals’ responses of School Discipline Problems Scale, teachers’ responses of Safe and Orderly School Scale, as well as students’ responses on the Student Bullying Scale were reported. The data were obtained from 9,726 Malaysian students, 6,116 Singaporean students, and 6,482 Thai students who participated in TIMSS 2015. The secondary data analysis using International Database (IDB) Analyzer revealed that principals’ reports of school discipline problems were significantly linked to Grade 8 students’ science achievement in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Science teachers’ reports of safe and orderly school were significantly linked to Singaporean eighth graders’ science achievement. Student bullying was significantly linked to Grade 8 students’ science achievement in Malaysia and Singapore. Administrators, educators, and policymakers who wish to improve students’ science achievement in TIMSS would benefit from the findings of this research that revealed research evidences on significant impact of school safety involving cybersecurity. Awareness should be raised on the need to have more precautions taken on school safety especially on cybersecurity in the advent of digital era, learning from a country with success stories on school safety and cybersecurity such as Singapore.
Highlights
This research explored the predictive effects of school safety on science achievement among Southeast Asian eighth graders in Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015
The engagement of learning content involving pedagogical approaches supported by conducive learning environments taking into consideration the safety of school are among the factors identified in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
TIMSS is an international comparative study initiated by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement since 1995 through international comparative research (Robitaille & Donn, 1993)
Summary
This research explored the predictive effects of school safety on science achievement among Southeast Asian eighth graders in TIMSS 2015. In an effort to build a better relation between curriculum and instruction in safe environment, the concept of student’s engagement in content through pedagogical approaches supported by environment that is safe and conducive is believed to have the most influence on student’s learning This aspect has been highlighted by many researchers, such as Parsons & Taylor (2011), and Zepke & Leach (2010). TIMSS is an international comparative study initiated by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (or known as IEA) since 1995 through international comparative research (Robitaille & Donn, 1993) Since it contributed to further understanding about how Information Technologies are affecting the way students learn in schools as well as what works in education and why
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