Our Readers' Opinions
August 17, 2012

Poor mathematics showing in SVG, the Caribbean

Fri, Aug 17, 2012

Editor: I listened intently on radio yesterday to a CSEC report of 2012, where the CXC Registrar Dr Didacus Jules lamented the poor mathematics results in the region.The results have shown a marked decline over the last 2 years.{{more}}

Similarly, the maths results in SVG for the last 2 years have declined as well, with just over 30% passes this year. There is now a call for urgent action to be taken in the region to correct this deficiency. CSEC math is the foundation level for CAPE maths and university maths.

I ask myself the questions:

How does our Prime Minister feel when he hears of the poor CSEC math results this year, knowing that one of our better maths teachers (Mr Elvis Daniel) is sitting at home since December 2010, doing nothing?

How does Mrs Girlyn Miguel, the champion of the education revolution, feel about Mr Daniel’s non-involvement in the mathematics education of our children?

How does the Chief Education Officer feel when she reads that report and realise that Mr Daniel can assist positively in improving the situation?

If our PM, Mrs Miguel and Miss Gilchrist feel proud of the situation and do not make an attempt to have Mr Daniel back in the classroom by September this year, to help in improving the situation, then I wonder if they have THE LOVE OF GOD RULING THEIR HEARTS.

Mr Daniel already has a master’s degree in mathematics and it is our students who will suffer if he continues to be kept out of the classroom. The Caribbean will be more than glad to grab him in light of these recent poor results in math. Let us not wait until he gets a lucrative offer and goes abroad. Let’s close the door now before the horse bolts away.

I am a strong supporter of the government, but I think that Mr Daniel has suffered far too long.

Let us look at national development here. What does the country have to lose if Mr Daniel is rehired? NOTHING.

What does the country have to gain? A WHOLE LOT, INCLUDING HIS EXPERTISE THAT HE HAS NURTURED OVER THE YEARS.

Time for action.

Disappointed ULP Supporter.