The top-brass leadership of the Ministry of Education, alongside a professional of one of the country’s leading commercial banks, have called for deeper collaboration to strengthen students’ performance in mathematics.

They were speaking at the recent awards ceremony for the National Mathematics Teacher of the Year and Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus.

Marsha Smith, state minister in the Ministry of Education; Dr Kasan Troupe, Permanent Secretary within the ministry; and Sandra Jones, manager for public sector engagement at JN Bank, all underscored that stronger partnerships within schools and between schools, communities and the private sector can help to actualise student performance in the often feared subject. 

Data from the Ministry of Education and Youth showed that in the 2023 Primary Exit Profile (PEP), 49 per cent of the approximately 36,000 students who sat the exam were assessed as proficient in mathematics, while, eight per cent were deemed ‘highly proficient’. 

At the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level, 44.7 per cent of students passed the subject. Notable improvements were recorded for pure and applied mathematics at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE) level.

Dr Troupe, in her welcome remarks, noted that no single stakeholder can transform the education system. 

“For the students who are here today being recognised, it is because of partnerships; parents coming together supporting the teachers; teachers coming together supporting the leadership and our partners coming together to support our students. Colleagues that is what it is going to take. There is no one person in this thing. It is all of us,” she said.

Smith added that more collaboration was needed to change the perception of Mathematics, adding that the subject continues to occupy a central place in the school curriculum as it contributes significantly to society and different fields of knowledge.

“We have to get it right at the foundation levels. Many students shy away from applying themselves to mathematics because of bad early experiences…We have to bring a sense of excitement, fun and practical application to the subject even as we try to move our students to staying critically and analytically literate,” she said.

She continued: “To help in this regard, the Ministry of Education and Youth’s Mathematics Unit has been working through a series of workshops and seminars to change the experience that students have been having with the subject and to make it more appealing.” 

For her part, in crediting her daughter’s success in education, including with mathematics, to the joint efforts of teachers and others, Jones of JN Bank also urged educators, parents, policymakers and other partners to commit to working together to emphasise the importance of mathematics in the society and improve teaching and learning experiences.

She noted that mathematics skills remain important and are helping the country and its citizens to achieve economic success.

The banker, whose company has been the title sponsor of the National Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award since its beginning in 2013, applauded teachers for their role in bringing the subject to life. “We applaud you teachers for your efforts in making mathematics- which can be an intimidating subject for many- fun and we, at JN, remain committed to providing support to help you improve the outcomes of students in not only Jamaica, but the region,” she said.

St James’ Green Pond Primary School’s Cameka Ingram walked away with the National Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award for 2024. Yanika Pitt of Mount Nebo Primary in St Catherine was named the first runner-up and Aniccia Walker of Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Academy in Westmoreland was second runner-up. 

In addition to receiving trophies, the top three teachers were awarded cash prizes from JN Bank.