MoE launches Mathematics intervention programme to improve pass rate

In light of the persistent decline in mathematics performance at all levels, the Education Ministry is taking a bold step with a targeted initiative aimed at transforming math outcomes across Guyana.
On Tuesday, the Ministry launched an intensive Mathematics Intervention Programme, designed to raise the national pass rate to between 45 per cent and 50 per cent at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level—a significant increase from the current 31 per cent.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain, who had previously criticised the lack of progress in math education, now expresses confidence in the revamped approach.
“We hope that these measures will help the students to ensure that they do well in CSEC. If students are present and they are taught, they will pass,” Hussain asserted, outlining the Ministry’s renewed commitment to success.
“There might be a math problem… in selective schools, we are looking at having additional classes”.

The centrepiece of this transformation is the deployment of a team of 50 math specialists—comprising retired teachers, degree holders, and university lecturers—tasked with supporting teachers and ensuring adherence to the improved curriculum. These experts will monitor classrooms, providing both guidance and accountability to ensure that teaching methods effectively address students’ needs.
This intervention comes at a critical time. While the pass rate for Additional Mathematics saw an increase to 53 per cent, core Mathematics results continue to fall short. To reverse this trend, the Ministry is focusing on schools with historically low performance, particularly at the Form Four and Five levels in CSEC.
Students will now have access to a range of enhanced resources, including past exam papers, scientific calculators, and textbooks. The initiative also introduces national mock exams, diagnostic tests, and bi-weekly lessons aired on the Guyana Learning Channel. Additionally, a math hotline, “736 MATH,” has been launched for students to seek help when facing challenges.

In an unprecedented move, the Ministry is holding both schools and teachers directly accountable for their students’ math results.
“Teach the students or we are coming,” Hussain warned. The Ministry plans to provide more coaching and support, particularly to schools that have consistently struggled, while also expanding teacher specialisation in subjects like math, starting from the primary level.
On the other hand, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand emphasised that the struggle with math is a global challenge, but Guyana cannot afford to wait for regional solutions. Sharing her personal experience with poor math instruction, she underscored the importance of quality teaching.
“I hated mathematics because we had a teacher who didn’t teach it,” she recalled, driving home the point that effective teaching is critical to improving student outcomes. Parents are also being called upon to play an active role in supporting their children through this transition.
“You have to do that, and if parental supervision is absent, your child will suffer and be at a disadvantage,” Manickchand warned, highlighting the need for a partnership between home and school to ensure the success of this ambitious plan.
“I don’t believe children can’t learn regardless of which school they are in or what grade they got at NGSA, so part of the problem is what we are teaching, how we are teaching, and who we are putting to teach”.
With the Ministry’s focus on accountability, support, and specialised instruction, this aggressive approach marks a turning point in tackling one of Guyana’s most pressing educational challenges. While the road to a 45-50 per cent pass rate in math may be difficult, the Ministry is determined to ensure that the nation’s students are well-equipped for success. (G-9)