FOCUS group sessions have begun at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), with the aim of further improving the performance of mathematics at secondary school level.

According to a release from the Ministry of Education (MoE), these sessions are part of the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project (GSEIP) which the ministry has been implementing.

The session involves collaboration to enhance grades seven to 11 Mathematics Content Standards for 21st Century proficiency in teaching and learning performance; they are part of one component of the GSEIP which seeks to improve the performance in Mathematics at the secondary school level.

The consultant who has been working with the Ministry of Education on this component of the GSEIP is Dr. Pier Angeli Junor Clarke. She said that after accepting the opportunity to work on the project, she assessed what currently obtains as it relates to performance standards, content standards and also what are the 21st century best practices.

The MoE release detailed that following her assessment of the present content standards, Dr. Clarke highlighted that there were some things that were good and others that were not so good.

The focus group sessions will primarily target head teachers; pre-service and in-service teachers; teacher educators; the mathematics technical group; the University of Guyana; the Cyril Potter College of Education, the National Centre for Education Resource Development and the Guyana Teachers Union.

Project Coordinator of the GSEIP, Jimmy Bhojedat, explained that these focus group sessions are being conducted to test what has been developed so far by the consultant.

He said that the ministry had undertaken a consultancy to develop mathematics standards among teachers. Moreover, Bhojedat said that working on the Mathematics Standards is just one avenue to improve the subject area. He noted that recently the ministry completed an online platform which is an interactive space where mathematics teachers can assist each other.

Giving an overview of this component, Senior Education Officer (Secondary) Ameer Ali said that it is to supplement and guide the process of how mathematics is taught in the classroom.

Ali explained that when the first draft of the Mathematics Standards is completed, there will be more focus group sessions and consultations conducted countrywide that will also involve members of the public.

Chief Education Officer Dr Marcel Hutson, also said today that this process is extremely important and pivotal to Guyana as a nation to move forward.

Addressing the gathering of CPCE students, educators and teachers, Dr Hutson made the point that change comes when people band together; as such, he said that the focus group sessions are an excellent opportunity.

Moreover, he noted that the MoE is not oblivious to what has to be done to improve the performance in the subject and noted that the ministry has come a far way.

He said that the ministry is concerned about what is necessary for a student to matriculate. He said that it is against this background that the Ministry of Education’s Strategic Plan 2019 – 2030 sought to have the programme imbedded in that plan.

The CEO also highlighted that it is important to have teachers play a role in the process.