The document proposes a study to investigate the performance of eighth-grade Omani students in the TIMSS (International Mathematics and Science Study) and aims to identify factors affecting their achievement, particularly comparing private and public school students. It outlines the methodology for data collection, including interviews with teachers and educational experts, and student questionnaires to analyze challenges in test performance. The literature review references previous studies on curriculum, gender differences in achievement, and the overall efficacy of mathematics education in various countries.

1. Grade eight Omanis students' performance in TIMSS
Introduction
TIMSS is a shortcut for "The International Mathematics and Science
Study". It was first conducted in 1995 and it is held regularly every four
years. Forty-five countries were participating in the first session. The
study is conducted under the auspices of the International Association
for Evaluation of Educational Achievement (EIA).It is based in
Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The study objects to compare students'
achievement in math and science in the different educational systems
,and to provide information and statistics on the performance of the
students. In addition, it evaluates the effectiveness of curricula, and
courses and their teaching methods applied. The study is applied to a
sample of schools and they take an experimental test a year before they
undergo to the real test, and it is applied for Forth & Eighth grade
students.
Thisproposal is about grade eight Omanis students' performance in
TIMSS. We want to know the factors that affect students' achievement.
Also, it studies the effectiveness of the educational system in their
scores. We hoped to make some changes in the factors which could
affect their achievement; especially, the curricula.
Research Question Why did students in private schools achieve
more than those in public schools?
Hypothesis:Private schools' students achieved more than public
schools' students.
Variables:
- Dependent: Performance.
- Independent: Educational system (private schools and public schools).

2. Grade eight Omanis students' performance in TIMSS
Sample:
We will get the list of the schools that participated in TIMSS in 2007 in
Oman. Also, we will choose randomly three classes from private and
three from public as well, and teachers who taught these classes with
some educational experts from the ministry.
Data collections:
- Interviews:
1) With (teachers) to find out which subject that obstructed the
students' achievement in TIMSS. Also, to know the level of the test
and the variation of the questions if it fits with the curricula the
students have had.
2) With (educational specialists from MOE) about the Quality of our
curricula and if it was one of the factors that affected the students'
score in TIMSS.
(We will use audio recorder to record the interviews).
- Questionnaire: for (the students in the sample) to ask them about the
most difficult questions and parts in the test and if there were any type
of questions they were unaccustomed. Later, we will analyze the
questionnaire to benefit from the students' answers.

3. Grade eight Omanis students' performance in TIMSS
Literature review:
1- The development of curriculum frameworks for mathematics and science was an essential first
step in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The frameworks have
served as guides for the design of the achievement testing component of TIMSS, and as the
foundation upon which the curriculum analysis component of the study is based. This study was
like a foundation for this program and it discuss the design of the test with the type of questions.
(Robitaille, David, 1993, Curriculum Frameworks for Mathematics and Science. TIMSS
Monograph No. 1.)
2- Another research reveals that boys achieved more scores in mathematics than girls. So that
gender can be a confounding variable in this study. The Third International Mathematics and
Science Study (TIMSS) offers a unique opportunity to examine some of the issues related to
gender differences in mathematics achievement in an international context. TIMSS report of 8th
grade mathematics achievement revealed few significant differences in mean achievement by
gender; differences that did exist, however, tended to favor males(Fierros, Edward Garcia,
1999, Examining Gender Differences in Mathematics Achievement on the Third International
Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the
American Educational Research Association (Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 19-23, 1999).
3- Results from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) have recently
captured the attention of the United States and once again focused the nation on matters of
mathematics teaching and learning. In general, the TIMSS results indicate a pervasive and
intolerable mediocrity in mathematics teaching and learning in the middle grades and beyond.
At Grades 7 and 8 and also at Grade 12, U.S. students achieve poorly in mathematics compared
to students in much of the rest of the world. Even the 12th-grade students who take advanced
mathematics courses performed substantially below students in most other nations. The results
also suggest that the demands made by the U.S. school mathematics curriculum and
mathematics classroom instruction are not as challenging as in other countries(Silver, Edward
A,1998, Improving Mathematics in Middle School: Lessons from TIMSS and Related
Research, U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP,
Washington, DC 20402-9328)
4- The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the largest, most
comprehensive, and most rigorous international comparison of education ever undertaken.
During the 1995 school year, the study tested the mathematics and science knowledge of a half-
million students from 41 nations at five different grade levels. In addition to tests and
questionnaires, the TIMSS included a curriculum analysis, videotaped observations of
mathematics classrooms, and case studies of policy issues (Peak, Lois,1996, Pursuing
Excellence: A Study of U.S. Eighth-Grade Mathematics and Science Teaching, Learning,
Curriculum, and Achievement in International Context. Initial Findings from the Third
International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), http://www.ed.gov/NCES/timss)
5- A research Studied the interpretation of mathematics in terms of algorithmic or coherent views
of 1,287 teachers from 12 countries using responses to items from the Third International
Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Teachers from four high-achieving Asian countries
were more likely to see mathematics as algorithmic than were teachers from four European
countries (Philippou, George N.; Christou, Constantinos,1999, Teachers' Conceptions of
Mathematics and Students' Achievement: A Cross-Cultural Study Based on Results from
TIMSS, Studies in Educational Evaluation, v25 n4 p379-98 1999)

4. Grade eight Omanis students' performance in TIMSS
References:
1- http://www.ameinfo.com/ar-255524.html
2- http://www.mohyssin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6811
3- Robitaille, David, 1993, Curriculum Frameworks for Mathematics and Science.
TIMSS Monograph No. 1.
4- Fierros, Edward Garcia, 1999, Examining Gender Differences in Mathematics
Achievement on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study
(TIMSS), Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational
Research Association (Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 19-23, 1999).
5- Silver, Edward A,1998, Improving Mathematics in Middle School: Lessons
from TIMSS and Related Research, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328
6- Peak, Lois,1996, Pursuing Excellence: A Study of U.S. Eighth-Grade
Mathematics and Science Teaching, Learning, Curriculum, and Achievement in
International Context. Initial Findings from the Third International
Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), http://www.ed.gov/NCES/timss
7- (Philippou, George N.; Christou, Constantinos, 1999, Teachers' Conceptions of
Mathematics and Students' Achievement: A Cross-Cultural Study Based on
Results from TIMSS, Studies in Educational Evaluation, v25 n4 p379-98 1999)

5. Grade eight Omanis students' performance in TIMSS
'Grade eight Omanis students'
performance in TIMSS'