Officials in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) said they are concerned about a Mathematics “crisis” gripping schools across the region.
Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, recently said he will be writing the Chief Education Officer in an effort for him to meet with a delegation from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to have an overall look at education delivery in the region. He noted that the RDC will also consult with the Teaching Service Commission on this, and other issues plaguing Region 10 schools.
“While nationally, there is bad results as it relates to Maths, we are concerned about Region 10. I am concerned about the output as it relates to Mathematics in Region 10. So, as part of some of the things that we’re going to talk about, we’re going to talk about the way forward for Mathematics… We’re persuaded that people are learning Maths from the level of primary school, even from nursery…” Morian stated.
Intervention
Meanwhile, Chairman of the region’s Education Committee, Denise Belgrave said in response to the countrywide issue, the emergency Mathematics intervention would have already commenced in Region 10, due to the low performance of students at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) last year. Belgrave, who is also one of the mentors of the programme, said while the commencement of the programme is a little late, owing to the fact that the NGSA is just around the corner, mentors and teachers are working, nevertheless.
“There is a core of persons who are conducting this monitory session, where we’re going in to schools to check on teachers – the planning, implementation of the plans, strategies used in the classroom and how the children are progressing”, she noted.
Belgrave added that mentors are not only sitting in to mark and observe, but working along with those involved.
Challenges
She added that a lack of resources, however, may have a negative impact on the success of the programme in the region.
“What we have found lacking in classroom, is a lot of resources for the teachers to use with the different children because they are of different levels, different abilities. Children have to have different strategies. Most of the complaints are materials in the classroom. We would have given, from the level of the Department of Education, some materials to the Grade Six teachers to reward the children, but for the use in the classroom for the children, we’re lacking there,” Belgrave said.
She noted further that the programme needs the support of parents, as she stated that they are expected to be updated on the programme at Parent Teachers Association meetings. She said at this time it is a very difficult task, since teachers are engaged in revision and some are sceptical about being assessed. Regardless, she said the programme will commence at the Grade Five level in April. (Utamu Belle)
