Absenteeism and Students' Attitudes Toward Science: Impact on Exam Results Among Eighth-Grade Students in Malaysia and Singapore

Abstract

Absenteeism and students' attitudes toward science have an impact on the exam results among eighth-grade students in Malaysia and Singapore. This study employed weighted least squares and quantile regression techniques on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019 data to analyze the net effect of these two factors in influencing the academic performance of eighth-grade students. Given Singapore's considerable lead in TIMSS ranking over Malaysia, this research sheds light on modifiable factors that can help Malaysia enhance its national science education. Absenteeism was more pressing in Malaysia than in Singapore, but it significantly influenced exam results in both countries. However, there was no significant difference in attitudes toward science. Results from quantile regression show that these impacts were not uniform across the performance distributions. The study's results emphasize that absenteeism, home educational resources, and parental education contribute to the performance disparities between the two countries. These results underscore the importance for policymakers and educational planners in Malaysia to take proactive steps in addressing these shortcomings to improve students' exam results, to work towards narrowing the performance gap, and to enhance science education. Keywords: home educational resources, quantile regression, science achievement, TIMSS, valuing science