CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Israeli students scored five points lower than last year in international math and science exams, finishing twenty-fourth out of 49 nations.

The exams, called TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) are provided by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).

First place in the science exams went to Singapore, with Taiwan, Japan and South Korea following in second, third and fourth place, respectively.

In the math exams, Taiwan took first place, followed by South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong.

In 2003, when Limor Livnat served as education minister in the Sharon government, Israeli students finished in 19 place in math and 23 in science, both improvements over the previous five years.

During the two plus years under Education Minister Yuli Tamir (Kadima) students' scores on international exams have dropped.

Source: YNet news