Cayman’s education minister has pledged to improve mathematics skills in government schools, after a new report revealed students are underperforming.
The Data Report for the Academic Year 2021-2022 showed that less than a half of all Year 6, 11 and 12 pupils reached the expected standards in maths.
In the Key Stage 2 standard assessment tests, only 42% of Year 6 primary school pupils achieved the expected standard.
While only 39.7% of Year 11 students attained level two maths, rising to 48% in Year 12, according to the report published on 2 May.
In a statement on 5 May, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said student attainment in maths is “not ideal” and assured the ministry is taking steps to enhance progress and performance.
‘Act now’
Her comments came just days after Barbara Conolly MP, speaking on behalf of the Opposition, complained about a lack of focus on the subject.
She said poor secondary school mathematics results are stopping pupils from attaining the overall expected standards and they must be addressed immediately.
In a 3 May press statement, she said she has “consistently” urged the education minister to devise and implement a new national strategy for mathematics.
After the release of the previous data report in 2022 she said the “single most important thing” for education would be to drive up levels of attainment in mathematics.
“It was obvious to me from last year’s data what the problem was,” Conolly said. “It is only now that the ministry draws the same conclusion.”
She added: “I fear we have wasted a year because this government has failed to listen to the warnings I was giving.”
The MP concluded: “There can be no more excuses. With every delay we risk failing another cohort of Caymanian students. Now is the time for the minister to act.”
Improvements
Among the efforts being taken to improve Caymanian students mathematics skills is implementation of the Schools’ Numeracy Strategy, the education minister said.
This includes training for school leaders at the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.
Educators are also participating in professional development sessions to improve students’ confidence and support teaching fundamental math concepts, O’Connor-Connolly said.
This will allow them to use “diagnostic, formative and summative assessments to determine the level of intervention, consolidation or enrichment needed for each student”.
The ministry is also recruiting 14 specialist maths teachers who will be placed in primary schools at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year.
“We understand that it takes time to see improvements in student performance,” O’Connor-Connolly said.
“Research has shown that it typically takes around three years to see successful changes in an elementary school and up to six years in a secondary school.”
The minister said the dip in mathematics performance since the academic year 2020-2021 is a global problem and not restricted to the Cayman Islands.
She said this may be due to the way examining boards assigned grades to students – through teacher-assessed grades rather than standardised external tests.
“It is important to mention that despite expectations, public schools are adding value to students in math, English, and science,” she added.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated to include comments from Barbara Conolly MP.
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