KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Education and Youth is ramping up efforts to attract and retain more Mathematics educators at the primary level as it seeks to improve student performance in the subject.

State Minister in the Ministry, Marsha Smith, said local and regional underperformance in the subject is influencing the Ministry’s increased focus on the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) subjects.

Addressing the Mathematics Teacher of the Year and Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad Awards ceremony, on Monday,  April 15 at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, the State Minister said the Ministry has also been collaborating with the teacher-training colleges to revamp their programme offerings with more opportunities and specialist teachers at the primary level, noting that is the foundation for many disciplines.

“It contributes to the advancement of different fields of knowledge and is vital for the prosperity of our society, and for that reason, it occupies a central place in the school curriculum,” she said.

The Ministry and the UWI recently collaborated to stage the Mathematics Teacher of the Year and the Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad (JMO) Awards event.

Kamika Ingram of the Green Pond Primary School, Region 4, was announced as the Mathematics Teacher of the Year 2024. Outstanding students in the JMO competition were also recognised.

Organised by the UWI Department of Mathematics, the JMO (junior and senior competitions) are the nation’s two highest academic mathematics competitions held annually.

For the final round of the junior competition, more than 1,100 students representing 94 primary and preparatory schools participated. The finals in the senior competition saw a total of 120 students from 19 high schools from various parishes vying for top awards.

The JMO competitions aim to identify, elevate and challenge mathematically inspired young students at the primary and high school levels across the island.

In his address at the ceremony, principal of the UWI, Mona campus, Professor Densil Williams, said the Mathematical Olympiad Competition has become a tool that is used to motivate and prepare a level of thinking that is needed to improve the competitiveness of the local labour force.

“The students here today are the ones who are going to lead tomorrow and, therefore, we have to ensure that they are given the best tools possible,” he said.

The awards ceremony formed part of the activities for National Mathematics Week 2024.