Georgetown: The introduction of the ambitious programme aimed at improving the performance at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC) is well on its way to achieving the desired results, particularly in the area of Mathematics. This is according to mathematics teacher attached to the Abram Zuil Secondary School, Astrid Raghoobar. The teacher of four years said that while she always aims for 100 percent passes her efforts over the years have been challenged by the lack of resources compounded by the inability of some students to acquire their own due to poverty. This state of affairs, she pointed out, often translates to frustration causing students to fail the subject. “One of the major reasons that these students are not performing well is because they have negative attitudes towards the subject area because they cannot afford certain things to help them perform better…” However with the intervention of the Ministry which has since seen a number of students and teachers being furnished with relevant resources to aid in an attempt to achieve success, the teacher expressed her belief that “I think that it is a very good intervention because in the areas of Mathematics students need the extra time to do extra practices and the resources as well.”
Earlier this month a whopping G$85.7 M contract was approved by Cabinet for the Ministry of Education for the project aimed at improving the CSEC pass rate. According to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the sum will be directed to an ambitious plan which was streamlined last month by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and will go towards the procurement of items to boost students’ learning. These will include: CXC General Maths Book I and II, the Self-Study Guide for CXC, the collection of revision DVDs, the combined pass papers from 2008 to 2011, Model Solutions to difficult answers, Combined Solution for Everything in addition to a geometry set, graph paper and a scientific calculator. Teachers on the other hand will each be provided with individual syllabus and a collection of the package so that they will be able to effectively work with each child.
The Minister upon assuming office sought to amplify the need for an urgent improvement in the subject areas of English and Mathematics countrywide. The latter mentioned subject area saw a significant decline reflective in a below 35 percent pass rate last year thus suggesting that there is a need for even more attention, according to Minister Manickchand.
She speculated that the existing low mathematics grades may very well be linked to the fact that the confidence level of the country as a whole may be equally low. She observed though that this dilemma is not unique to Guyana as it is very evident the Region over.
According to Raghoobar, “there is no doubt that this intervention will help, but being realistic we wouldn’t get our 100 percent pass rate now but we are guaranteed to improve on our results.” The Abram Zuil School is expected to enter at least 113 students at CSEC this year who are currently being prepared by two teachers. As part of their efforts, the teacher said that the school is also working along with parents to address other issues that could affect the performance of students. “We are working with parents to ensure that they not only look at their work but also to ensure that they are punctual, have regular attendance and that their home life is conducive to aiding their learning including of their nutritional needs…Even their career choices parents are expected to help students with,” the teacher asserted.
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