MoE Launches Nationwide Math Intervention Awareness Campaign
November 11, 2024 – The Ministry of Education has launched a comprehensive Math Intervention Awareness Campaign to promote its revised National Mathematics Intervention Programme recently, following a directive from President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to address declining performance in math across the nation’s schools.
The campaign, targeting a significant improvement in CSEC math pass rates, comes in response to the national pass rate dropping from 34% to 31% in recent years.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand stressed that while mathematics remains a challenge regionally and globally, systemic issues within the classroom must be tackled.
Reflecting on her own experiences, she emphasized that poor performance often stems from how and who is teaching the subject, adding that teachers and schools will now be held accountable for their students’ results. To ensure adherence to the curriculum and effective teaching, the ministry has appointed monitors to oversee classroom instruction.
A dedicated team of 50 math monitors, including retired educators, math degree holders, and university lecturers, will work directly with 50 targeted schools across Guyana that have historically low pass rates, particularly among Grades 10 and 11 students.
These schools will receive additional support in the form of past paper booklets, geometry sets, scientific calculators, and textbooks. The initiative also features diagnostic tests, national mock exams, and twice-weekly math lessons broadcasted on the Ministry of Education and Guyana Learning Channel’s social media platforms.
The programme’s support system extends beyond classrooms, with a dedicated hotline, 736-MATH, for students and teachers to report math-related challenges. Additionally, the “Quiz Me” app provides students with practice through multiple-choice exam-style questions to bolster their preparation.
Minister Manickchand, during school visits in Pomeroon-Supenaam, Region 2—including Charity Secondary, Cotton Field Secondary, Aurora Secondary, and Johanna Cecilia Secondary—urged parents, teachers, and students to maximize the programme’s resources. She underscored the importance of parental involvement in motivating students to practice regularly and actively engage with the intervention tools.
The initiative also includes interactive programming led by Education Officer and Math Intervention Coordinator Sir Leon Beaton. His “Beatin’ Da Maths” series, aired on Wednesdays, features school visits where he challenges students with math problems. Additionally, topic-based math videos aligned with the curriculum air every Tuesday and Sunday on the Ministry’s social media channels, providing accessible and engaging content for students.
The multi-faceted programme focuses on accountability, resource allocation, and community involvement, with the goal of achieving at least a 40% national math pass rate by 2025.
Minister Manickchand and her team are optimistic that the combination of classroom support, accessible resources, and interactive programming will drive significant improvements in math education across Guyana.
The Ministry remains committed to continuously refining and adapting the programme to meet the evolving needs of students, teachers, and the broader educational community.
(Ministry of Education)
