NCB Foundation's teaching guide to change math at CSEC level
Published:Thursday | May 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Nadisha Hunter and Kaymian Weekley, Gleaner Writers
The dismal performance in mathematics over the years may soon be improved at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level following the roll-out of the National Commercial Bank's (NCB) Foundation's scope and sequence of content teaching guide.
A module of the foundation's approach to teaching mathematics was handed over to Education Minister Andrew Holness at a press conference at NCB Wellness Centre in Kingston yesterday.
A pilot approach to teaching mathematics, with the use of the module, was implemented in six high schools in Kingston and St Andrew in 2004. The pilot lasted three years.
The schools which participated in the pilot are Jamaica College, St George's College, Gaynstead, Meadowbrook, Mona and St Hugh's high schools.
Radley Reid, consultant, said the project has helped the schools to improve in the subject area significantly.
"All six schools have improved tremendously. For Meadowbrook in 2004, it had 40 students passing out of 176, and in 2010, 146 passes out of 199. Gaynstead had three passes out of 61 in 2004, and in 2010, 44 students passed out of 60 and for the other schools, the change was also excellent," he said.
investment very important
For his part, Holness said: "The investment in developing a scope and sequence for the mathematics syllabus at the CXC level is very important."
"While the syllabus will tell you the areas that you should cover, exactly what content and how is left up to the school to determine and oftentimes the school simply don't have the institutional or the instructional resources to make that determination," the minister said.
"I want to assure NCB that the investment will not go to waste. It will not be on a shelf; we intend to use it in the education system," he added.
Mathematics is one of the most challenging subjects for students at the secondary level. In 2009, 40 per cent of the students who sat CSEC were successful. The percentage increased to 45 in 2010.