Singapore assists in training Jamaican maths teachers

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Ministry of Education is partnering with Singapore’s National Institute of Education to facilitate the training of a cohort of mathematics teachers from Jamaica.

Fifty-six public and private mathematics teacher educators and 21 mathematics specialists, are to be trained under the partnership.

The five-day training programme, which begins tomorrow, is targeted at strengthening the capacity of teacher educators.

The education ministry says participants will examine principles in teaching mathematical problem solving and assessment of mathematical problem solving.

They will also be trained to use ICT in teaching mathematics and assessment of student learning, among other strategies.

National mathematics coordinator, Dr. Tamika Benjamin, says the initiative will be integral to the ministry’s ability to meet its targets for student performance in math. She says the training programme is being facilitated to ensure participants are given the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to support the development of quality primary and secondary teachers.

According to Benjamin, teacher education institutions have to become deliberate in developing and implementing effective methods to ensure graduates are competent and confident in the classroom, and capable of developing and facilitating lessons focused on concept development.

She says a failure to move in this direction will negatively impact the long term goals for mathematics education in Jamaica.