Ja gets 'F' for Math

Country to miss 2015 grade 4 numeracy target, says educator

BY LUKE DOUGLAS Observer senior reporter williamsl@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

JAMAICA will not meet its target of 85 per cent of students achieving mastery in the Grade Four Numeracy Test (GFNT) if the education system continues on its present path, according to Dr Tamika Benjamin, director of the Centre for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching at The Mico University College.

Dr Benjamin made the ominous observation yesterday as she pointed to what she termed a "cycle of underperformance" in Math at all levels of the education system, resulting largely from a shortage of quality teachers.

"There is no way we are getting to 85 per cent (mastery) by 2015," Dr Benjamin said at the weekly Observer Monday Exchange. "We're not seeing a systematic approach to addressing the problem."

She said given the poor performance of students sitting the test at present, achieving the target of 85 per cent within three years was also "unreasonable".

Results of the GFNT for last year showed only 49 per cent of the students achieved mastery in the exam, an increase from the 41 per cent who achieved mastery in 2010.

The Ministry of Education has set a target of 85 per cent of students achieving mastery in the test by 2015.

Dr Benjamin explained that many students entered teacher training institutions with deficiencies in Math, which they in turn passed on to their students when they became teachers, thus continuing the cycle of underperformance.

She called for diagnostic testing of students entering teacher training institutions, as "some trainees were barely passing (Math) and getting into the system (as teachers)".

Dr Benjamin indicated that passes in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) could be misleading as there were students, some with grade one passes in Math, who struggled to master the first year in the subject at college level. She blamed this on what she called "the watering down of what it (a grade one in CSEC Math) meant years ago". She explained that what it takes to get a grade one pass in the subject today is vastly different from what a student had to master in the past.

As government policy, each of the 790 public primary level schools throughout Jamaica should have at least one teacher with specialised training in Math, Dr Benjamin suggested.

"Within five years we should identify all the competent teachers in the system and ensure each primary school is equipped with at least one certified Math teacher who would be in charge of teaching Math at that school," she said.

She also called for a system of mentoring new teachers to overcome whatever knowledge gaps they may have.

Head of the Mathematics Department at Mico, Novlet Plunkett, said a course in Math is compulsory for every student at the institution. She said the university has insisted on this policy despite meeting resistance from student teachers.

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COMMENTS (25)

Anthony Johnson
2/22/2012

When teachers do their part, the parents & students must also do their part. Math is a subject that you need to practice to get good at it. I know this because I passed CXC Math, Additional Maths and 'A' level Maths(GCE) and went on to University to pass first yr Math (M10A & M10B) & nowhere would I have passed these with all the teachings I received if I didnt go home and practice, practice, practice. Students nowadays go to classes & then go home & sleep or have fun. It doesn't work like that

K Reynolds
2/21/2012

Most of the students that attended the non-traditional HS are not being exposed to advance math. Until all schools are created equal...we will always have this deficiency. For one to be successful in math, one needs to practice. One needs access to tutoring, lab time for re-enforcement, and lots of self discipline. I was successful in Calculus 1 & 2, and it was all about my dedication. The teachers were not that influential. Everyone situation is different.

Isaac Riley Jr.
2/21/2012

Look Math is hard (that's as blunt as I can be). Access to research & resources are amongst the chief reasons why it's difficult to have teachers really qualified to teach Math. We can however look to those who have a handle on the subject and gather pointers: 15 yrs ago (as a Computer Science/Applied Math sophomore) I sat in a Physics Calculus class and learnt that the Russians did said course in Grade 11. Case study anyone?

james allen
2/21/2012

wow,that nice,im losing touch,i did not know that mico is now a university...thats some good news at least...crime and criminal upsurge is always a downer for me..when i hear it..cause i always want my mothers homeland to get back to its core values and stay their as the leading majority black nation in the world ,even though a very small place..but thats one of the positive titles jamaica held at one time,not too distant past..

Jakan 2011
2/21/2012

@ Odean W, the archaic method works. It is the new nonsensical methods that cause the problem. Did we have this problem when we had "archaic teachers with archaic methods"? I rest my case. The biggest problem was and has always been those people who want to fix that which was not broken. The archaic is best suited at the fundamentals points. Flattery, flowery and hifalutin show only cause confusion. Those are suited after we pass the fundamentals. The problem is more than to do with teachers

Yard Vibz
2/21/2012

No wanda Holness nuh want 'im yute dem fi expose to di system! Jakan, mi fren, there is no danger in putting a leash on the tongue; sometimes simple utterances could ruin the legacy that we had toiled so hard to acquire... Anyway, I'm amazed that the author had not mentioned that long-nosed patois is the real culprit behind our partially paralyzed education system? After all, the dialect has been blamed for all our shortcomings, so why not this too? The whole system needs to be overhauled!

Tris McPhee
2/21/2012

There is no hard evidence in this article to prove that this is true about students doing so poorly. Give me the evidence. Also the recommendation deserves an F. With such huge overgraded classrooms, poor learning environments, lack of resources, how can having one math certified teacher at each school solve this huge problem. All that will happen to that teacher is called "teacher burnout". We will need various systemically approaches in dealing with these challenges. One thing will not work.

Odean White
2/21/2012

The problem is in the archaic methods being used to convey the foundational principles of Math to students. We need to invest in age-appropriate tools/resources (from basic school to CAPE) if we're serious about endgendering a turnaround in the mathematical aptitude of Jamaica. It's no longer about teachers imposing their "mathematical heritage" on the students of today, it's all about meeting them at their points of need by effectively applying contemporary methods, tools and resources.

R- Cool
2/21/2012

I can recalled in my High School era (60s-70s) MATH and ENGLISH was MANDATORY. Most courses taught in Ja schools today are none-science courses.
In in the same breath of teaching. 85% of BAs- Phds graduates from UWI are non-science degrees holders. So if this is the common practice. Whom are their to really teach math inclusively with science so as to make our future generation competitive in the manufacturing sector. Where we are totally HANDICAP.
These Phds people are the same critics

2/21/2012

The problem is in the archaic methods that are currently used to convey the foundational mathematical principles to students. If we invest in cutting-edge methods to convey these principles at all levels (from basic/infant school right up to CAPE) then our students' performance and ability to apply these priniciples will be dramatically improved. We can't continue to build the Mathematical aptitude of our nation on a brittle foundation. We must re-build the foundation from the ground up.

Born Yah Jamaica
2/21/2012

@Jakan 2011. You surprise me. Perhaps too close to the issue relative to teachers. Students minds can be molded. I dont believe our children are inherently unable to learn math. THE PROBLEM is one of DELIVERY. Based on the numbers the problem seems systemic. We are foolish not to admit that we have a QUALITY problem. Poor curriculum, poor training, poor recruitment and poor teachers leads to poor students. Time to create a Math and Sciences specialist program for teachers & PAY them well.

Ms. Coral
2/21/2012

Pete Nicely, I am in total agreement with your comment and the position stated in this article. We had to understand the material on a deeper level if we wanted to get that coveted Grade 1. Lastly, I must admit that some of our experienced Math teachers made Math into a 'spiritual' experience and only God helped some of us to pass. Some Math teachers often made simple principles in Math appear hard and they literally delighted in teaching a 'hard' subject to pass.

Jeff Orange
2/21/2012

What I find disturbing is the so-call teachers who graduated from Teachers College and are now teaching high school students, who themselves, did not obtain a single pass in their O'Levels or mediocre passes in the water-down CXC exams. The facts are, the teaching profession has never attracted the "best" and as such, we are seeing the results. During my high school years, the effective Math/Science teachers were not trained Teachers, but individuals who came from industry and was between jobs.

The Yardboy
2/21/2012

The problem with Maths is the Enlish.

Jakan 2011
2/21/2012

How could I not mention that just about everywhere schools are in the same spot a Jamaican schools. Many provinces in Canada no longer require grade 12 Math to get High School Diploma with the toughest known only requiring grade 11 lowest tier math (to me less than CSEC Basic). Do we really need all the students to be Math specialists to determine our success? Do we need more than the % now interested in Science to be keen on Science? What really is our issue? What do we really need?

Pete Nicely
2/21/2012

This article points to something that I have been suspecting for some time now, especially when I am hearing reports that students are getting 9 distinctions and more on a frequent basis, i.e. "the watering down of what it (a grade one in CSEC Math) meant years ago" I read elsewhere some time ago another Math teacher saying the same thing, including the fact that there are some important topics in Math that are not being included in the syllabus anymore.

Vincent Murray
2/21/2012

If the teachers are mediocre then it stands to reason that the students will fare even worse. Raise the standards for Math teachers.

Jakan 2011
2/21/2012

Why test the teachers and not people like these ones here? I hope this requirement for a college level math course is required of those "teachers" trained elsewhere (other than Jamaica).
It seems to me that it would make sense that the requirement is for Math up to grade 11/12 rather than harassing the teachers. In our time Math of some sort was required up to 5th form.
This is what happens when we have people come with high falutin' crap. Tell us really what was wrong with O'Level system

Nejeeper KNG
2/21/2012

We have underperforming students because of the underperforming teachers. Teachers are just showing up for school to interact with each other, it is not about the students. This should not discredit the few who cares however the system is a failure. JA teachers are more concern with tribal politics instead of the welfare of the students. They should all be ashamed of themselves for not carrying out their responsibilities; which is to educate effectively. When the children fail we fail.

Real Estate
2/21/2012

This concept has been floated for a long time. Finally it is being accepted or acknowledged. I hope to see the plans implemented that will effect the needed change.
The ignorance, regarding this subject, that permeates the society is embarassing as well as comical. The unfortunate result is that the power of the children's mind is not being harnessed & utilized effectively. It's easy to do; they just need to get away of the fear & anxiety; use the proper textbooks; test on what is taught.

Born Yah Jamaica
2/21/2012

The failures of the MOE and the JTA to implement a performance based pay scheme are due mainly to political expediency on the former, and, an attempt by the latter to mask mediocrity among, and to protect its membership, while blackmailing the country into inaction, due to its perceived importance to EDUCATION in the national psyche. Well all men are NOT equal. There are excellent teachers now surrounded by ppl who should not be in the profession.Courage, as always, fails us.

Born Yah Jamaica
2/21/2012

The country will be held at ransom until the quality of teachers and of teaching skills are made a priority. It is insufficient and even useless to set targets without the proper delivery systems in place which ought to include periodic evaluation of both students and teachers. Our long term survival is directly related to our mastery of Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) to which end we must cultivate and pay educators with these skills. The status quo will not fix the problem.

A Sil
2/21/2012

Why not (as I have frequently suggested - and often censored) test the teachers who are already in the system? Test them when the students are being tested, even at the same level and the same paper. The situation demands it!

Jeffrey Thompson
2/21/2012

First and foremost,by hearing the name mathematics send shock waves through the mind of many individuals to even think about the subject.
How are we going to change that mindset....Let us not use the word maths anymore;let us more often refer to the subject as Basic Logic And Reasoning (B.L.A.R).
Children must not be exposed to problems they don't understand.I have often suggested that having daily competition,where everyone should be placed in group amongst their peers and aim to move upwards

Justin Wright
2/21/2012

Force it down them brain, Maths Maths and more Maths. Why the rush, lets think of world order, is Maths knowledge critical for survival? yes indeed, however, Maths shapes the brain into calculative assimilation, which can result in more students accepting the science. So the real aim here is towards motivating the students to take up the science. So we can have less DJ's spewing scattered thoughts into deranged lyrics which is a poor excuse for Jamaican culture. 'Gal dem tun up de ting'. Lol lol

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Ja gets 'F' for Math