Sharpe conference to highlight role of early childhood education in math success
Published:Monday | November 11, 2024 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Konnor Peters, lecturer and head of the Mathematics Department at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in Granville, St James, says emphasising the importance of early childhood education in mathematics will be a key focus at this year’s Sharpe Mathematics Conference.
According to Peters, the recurring low pass rates in mathematics among secondary and primary school students and the declining interest among teachers to specialise in the subject were driving factors at the conference’s inception.
With testimonials attesting to the benefits of the previous two Sharpe mathematics conferences, he said this year’s event will include basic school teachers to help renew their interest in mathematics.
“We want participants to understand the reality of mathematics in everyday life and not treat it as a remote subject, as this approach has been a major factor in the declining pass rates in CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) and other examinations,” said Peters.
The mathematics conference, which is scheduled for November 13 at the college, will be staged under the theme, ‘Applying the Fix – Connecting the Disconnected’, will host around 300 teachers from early childhood institutions, primary schools, and secondary schools in western Jamaica.
Renowned mathematics guru, Dr Andrew Hunte, head of the School of Humanities and Education at The University of the West Indies, Five Islands Campus, in Trinidad, will deliver the keynote address. He will be joined by distinguished local mathematics experts, who are known for their excellence in teaching.
The one-day event will feature three primary breakout sessions. The first session aims to bridge gaps and boost teachers’ knowledge on “making meaningful connections in mathematics that resonate with students”.
The second session focuses on creating a positive attitude by restoring good performance and cultivating a positive mindset toward mathematics. The third session seeks to rekindle enthusiasm for mathematics among students and educators alike.
In 2023, the CSEC mathematics examinations saw a pass rate of 43 per cent, the highest since 2021. It was a six-per-cent increase over 2022.
Despite the improvement, Peters is arguing that there is still a need for both educators and students to become more connected with mathematics, particularly given its foundational role in modern technology fields like computer programming, app design, and artificial intelligence.
“There is a need for both educators and students to become more connected with the subject and to realise that, especially in this age of computer programme, app designs and artificial intelligence (AI), application of mathematics is the platform on which this development in technology is growing,” he added.
More students received passing grades in their May/June 2023 CSEC mathematics examination when compared to 2022, according to data from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on the performance of students who wrote the regional examination.
Some 43 per cent of students received a passing grade for mathematics which represents the highest pass rate since 2021. This was an increase of six per cent when compared to 2022.