Minister of Education Girlyn Miguel has encouraged students to pay more attention to learning their tables, in order to achieve better grades in mathematics.{{more}}
In the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC) May/June 2012 examinations, only 27.9 per cent of the students in St Vincent and the Grenadines who wrote math obtained a passing grade.
This pass rate is a slight improvement over 2011, when 26.9 per cent of the students passed, but is down from 2010, when 35.7 per cent were successful.
Speaking at last Fridayâs presentation of Taiwan scholarships at the Peace Memorial Hall, Miguel stated that too many students are failing mathematics and itâs not because they donât have good teachers.
ââ¦But students, you have to do your part. And I want you to believe me and I am saying this to you because I care,â the education minister said.
âWe are having some problems. We are finding that some of our students are not learning their tables.
âLearn your tables!
âIf you learn your tables, you will be able to do your math. Learn them!
âTake the book and go aside, away from the television and find some cool spot. Make sure you learn them. You need your mathematics throughout life, students,â the minister implored.
Miguel, who is a former schoolteacher and head teacher advised students to ask their teachers for help when they are given mathematics homework and donât understand.
Parents were also asked to give assistance, where necessary, towards the advancement of their children in the classrooms.
Miguel encouraged parents to visit the schools and talk to teachers to find out how their children are progressing and which subject areas they need to improve on.
âWe are good people. Talk to us please, parents.
âWe know that sometimes, you yourself are not able to help your children, but thatâs why we are here. Please come; please work with your PTA. I know that some of our principals, we can organise classes. Our school doors are open at the end of each day. There are classes for adults.
âI have heard testimonies of persons who could not write. They could not read. They are testifying now of the goodness of joining an adult education class.
âPlease parents I am exhorting you, I am begging you. Help your children to do better at the end of the next school year. If you cannot do it yourself, ask for that help,â Miguel added.
The minister also made the point that sometimes people will refer to students who do not perform well in their academics as âdunceâ.
She, however, advised students to ignore the negative statements.
âOur Heavenly Father, he has given all of us blessings. We do not all have the same number of blessings, but if you are good at the math, go for it boys and girls. Do the math well.
âIf you are good at English language, do it well⦠Donât let anybody tell you who is brighter than who and who you are brighter than. No!
âWhere ever you have your blessing and you can do your work well, please do it well. No matter what anybody else says. Never look down on yourself. Always believe in yourself,â Miguel said. (AA)
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