Maths Task Force launched

Stung by a 47 per cent pass in mathematics in the 2012 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations, the government of St Kitts and Nevis has devised a programme to immediately increase the performance of its students.

The immediate response from the education ministry comes despite the fact that students in St Kitts and Nevis outperformed the region where the average was 33 per cent and swamped Jamaica where only 31.7 per cent of the students who sat mathematics attained passes.

The education ministry last week announced that it has issued 'A Call To Action' to members of a new Mathematics Task Force set up to improve student performance and teaching in mathematics in the country.

Dr Leighton Narraine, director of the Employee and Programme Development Unit at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, has been commissioned by the Ministry of Education to take the lead in this effort.

According to the education ministry, "a declining trend in math passes over several years for the Caribbean region, including St Kitts and Nevis, necessitated such a task force which is being strongly encouraged to act expeditiously".

"We believe the formulation of a Mathematics Task Force would be the most effective way to respond to the 'Call To Action', said Narraine.

The initial composition of the Task Force includes specialists in mathematics, science and curriculum development from various educational levels of curriculum planning and delivery.

Narraine said although the long-term solution to the problem should include intervention at the earliest level, it is essential to strategise for a turnaround to the declining trend in results in the short to medium term as well.