Senator Hill Emphasises Importance of Improved Performance in Maths
By: , August 22, 2018The Key Point:
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Executive Director, Economic Growth Council, Senator Aubyn Hill (left); Vice Principal, Academic Affairs, Shortwood Teachers’ College, Dr. Claudette Barrett-March (centre) and Regional Mathematics Coordinator, Ms. Pauline Thames-Baker, examine PR1ME textbooks students currently use in primary schools across the island. The books were on display at the ‘Amazing Mathematics Powers… PR1Med for Success Workshop’, at Shortwood Teachers’ College in Kingston, on August 21.The Facts
- At the annual ‘Amazing Mathematics Powers… PR1Med for Success Workshop’, held for primary level teachers at Shortwood Teachers’ College in Kingston on Tuesday (August 21), Senator Hill said it is very important for every Jamaican to get involved in the Government’s effort to fix the economy, and homes can play their part by ensuring their children perform well in Mathematics.
- “The single most important subject, in my view… is Mathematics. Last year, we had good results, two per cent increase in Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Mathematics. This year, it’s 7.6 (for public schools). It’s up [by] 57.8 per cent. GSAT results have grown by 4.3 per cent in Mathematics (as of March 2017),” Mr. Hill said.
The Full Story
Executive Director, Economic Growth Council, Senator Aubyn Hill, has argued that more improvements in the various testing stages of Mathematics could result in more growth in the economy, and more jobs for persons.
At the annual ‘Amazing Mathematics Powers… PR1Med for Success Workshop’, held for primary level teachers at Shortwood Teachers’ College in Kingston on Tuesday (August 21), Senator Hill said it is very important for every Jamaican to get involved in the Government’s effort to fix the economy, and homes can play their part by ensuring their children perform well in Mathematics.
“The single most important subject, in my view… is Mathematics. Last year, we had good results, two per cent increase in Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Mathematics. This year, it’s 7.6 (for public schools). It’s up [by] 57.8 per cent. GSAT results have grown by 4.3 per cent in Mathematics (as of March 2017),” Mr. Hill said.
“There is nothing more important to Jamaica today, than growing our economy. I know crime is bad and we have to fix it, and to a certain extent we are fixing it. If you do not have consistently good economic growth for Jamaica, we will never be able to afford to solve crime. You must have good economic growth to solve crime,” he added.
He said with recent initiatives launched for improvement in Mathematics, such as the Professional Development Programme for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Mathematics Specialists and Teacher Educators, sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), he expects to see more improvements in the subject, and teachers being better able to help students with problem solving and the demands of the subject.
“We have a US$40,000 grant from the IDB for a math programme. Focus on Mathematics. When this money comes, use it well,” Mr. Hill said, while encouraging the teachers.
The Senator made his address during a panel discussion on the topic: ‘Evolving Our Pedagogy to Impact Our Workforce’ with Senior Economist, Ministry of Energy, Mr. Kemmehi Lozer; Regional Mathematics Coordinator, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Ms. Pauline Thames-Baker; and CEO, JMMB Bank Jamaica Limited, Mr. Jerome Smalling.
The ‘Amazing Mathematics Powers… PR1Med for Success Workshop’ is being held between August 21 and 23.
Approximately 600 primary level teachers, including those who will be teaching the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), are being trained in best practices for Mathematics at the workshop. Teachers from Belize and Barbados are also participating.