WITH only 45 per cent of students scoring passes in the recent Grade Four Numeracy Test, Jamaican educators are challenged to continue to motivate and encourage their students to strive for and achieve excellence in mathematics.

Teachers from the M&M Jamaica Mathematics Competition were invited to weigh in on how they think children can be made to do well in the subject.

CECIL RAMASAMUGH, Black River High

C&E: Why do you think Jamaican students continue to perform poorly in mathematics?

ANSWER: There are a number of reasons, notably:

* Students’ priorities have changed. Many are distracted by the offerings in a technologically driven world.

* Family life has broken down and there is increasingly a lack of parental supervision of children.

* Foundation at the basic education level was not properly laid since teachers at that level are not properly trained. This in turn leads to problems for the students later. Also, students at that level are sometimes allowed to engage in rote learning and therefore, there is no conceptual understanding.

* A lack of specialist educators at the early childhood and primary levels to properly stimulate students’ minds where mathematics is concerned.

* Government’s failure to provide the necessary resources to enable high-quality performance at the early childhood and primary school levels.

* Students’ failure to take pride in their schoolwork. Oftentimes they forget or fail to recognise the value of a good education. They therefore neglect to engage in continuous study and revision. Some of them don’t even do homework.

* The CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) syllabus does not fit the current needs of our society. Most students who leave high school don’t end up at tertiary-level institution and they leave without passing or taking CSEC mathematics. There needs to be a review of the syllabus and hence the exam, to better suit the students who wish to take up a technical/ vocational area.

C&E: What teaching methods do you use or otherwise recommend to get students willing and able to learn mathematics?

ANSWER: The strategies include portfolios, the discovery learning approach, technology, field trips, and math games.

C&E: Do you think that the M&M Mathematics Competition helps your students?

ANSWER: It helps to stimulate students’ minds, reward students who excel, thereby motivating them to set higher goals for themselves, and motivates students to develop a love for the subject.

C&E: Should similar competitions be implemented on a national level?

ANSWER: Yes. At the parish level (St Elizabeth), the advantages are many. It recognises both the teachers’ and students’ efforts.

—

INGRID BROWN, BB Coke High

C&E: Why do you think Jamaican students continue to perform poorly in mathematics?

ANSWER: There are a number of factors, including hunger, a mental block, a lack of resources, not enough encouragement from parents or guardians, poor delivery by some teachers, and also lack of preparation by the students.

C&E: What teaching methods do you use or otherwise recommend to get students willing and able to learn mathematics?

ANSWER: The methods that I would recommend, if it can be used at some schools, include peer teaching, having technology in the classroom and taking the class outside to make a link between the topic and the environment.

C&E: Do you think that the M&M Mathematics Competition helps your students?

ANSWER: I think it helped in broadening some of the contents they had to learn, helped them to work as a team and learn how to deal with competing against top schools. The students looked forward to achieving something and worked hard at it. This to me seemed to encourage them to want to excel in mathematics.

C&E: Should similar competitions be implemented on a national level?

ANSWER: It should be implemented on a national level as it creates a zeal in the students who generally show a lack of interest to do well and thus may enhance the numeracy level.

—

DANA LINDO, Lacovia High

C&E: Why do you think Jamaican students continue to perform poorly in mathematics?

ANSWER: Enough time is not spent on mathematics at the primary level. Most people don’t really like math. The truth is, most teachers went through school with a fear of math because of the way they were taught the subject. As a result, they do not take the time out to teach the subject in a way to grasp the students’ interest.

C&E: What teaching methods do you use or otherwise recommend to get students willing and able to learn mathematics?

ANSWER: The most effective teaching method to get students involved in the learning of mathematics is to allow them to explore; creative strategies that will make them willing to participate. Students love competition, so let them compete against each other and offer incentives that will get their adrenaline pumping.

C&E: Do you think that the M&M Mathematics Competition helps your students?

ANSWER: Students look forward to competing against each other to see who will come out on top and get a chance to represent their school. Some students are actually excited when they hear about the competition with the result that they practise math a lot more often and in the process develop a love for the subject.

C&E: Should similar competitions be implemented on a national level?

ANSWER: That would be a very good idea. Just look at what it does for St Elizabeth and imagine it doing that for the entire country. I am sure it would help to improve the pass rate at the national level.