Mathematics Performance Concerns Regional Leaders
President Irfaan Ali has expressed concern over the poor mathematics performance of Caribbean students, which has captured the attention of regional leaders. The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) reported that only 36 percent of students received passing grades for mathematics at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam, a seven-percentage-point decrease compared to last year.
Regional Concerns
CXC’s Director of Operations, Dr. Nicole Manning, emphasized the need for improvement in each territory. President Ali said regional leaders would discuss the matter, suggesting that declining grades in mathematics might be due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The issue of mathematics has now captured the attention of every head of state and prime minister in the region, and it is now an agenda for the Heads of Government in CARICOM. That is to tell you the issues and challenges we face," Ali said.
Guyana’s Performance
According to CXC results, Guyana recorded a CSEC Mathematics pass rate of 31 percent this year, compared to 34 percent last year. President Ali wondered whether the declining success rate was linked to the pandemic.
"Now, also COVID, mathematics required more direct contact, groups, analytics, teachers-to-student relationships, and teaching time. Did COVID itself have a more significant impact on student’s performance in mathematics than in other subject areas?" he asked.
Addressing the Issue
President Ali has asked Education Minister Priya Manickchand to conduct an introspection and ascertain what globally available tools could be used to improve maths performance before next year’s CARICOM discussion. He emphasized the importance of digitizing education, saying, "We’re investing in the digitization of education, the digitization of our textbooks, the digitization of our teaching material, the digitization of our learning material, digitization of our delivery."
Conclusion
The poor mathematics performance of Caribbean students is a concern that requires collective action from regional leaders. President Ali’s emphasis on digitizing education is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the current state of mathematics performance in the Caribbean?
- According to CXC results, only 36 percent of students received passing grades for mathematics at the CSEC exam.
- What is the reason for the decline in mathematics performance?
- President Ali suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had a significant impact on student’s performance in mathematics.
- What is the government’s plan to address the issue?
- The government is investing in the digitization of education, textbooks, and teaching material to improve maths performance.
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