A Mathematics Camp hosted by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, is among the many strategies being utilised by administrators at Tarrant High School in Kingston to improve the performance of students in the subject.

The institution is among 56 high schools which are receiving support under the National School Learning and Intervention Plan (NSLIP), for face-to-face camps aimed at providing students with an opportunity to sharpen their skills, build confidence and receive targeted support.

The Christmas Mathematics Camp was held between December 16 and 19.

Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, taught a class on patterns and sequences in mathematics at the institution on Thursday (December 19).

In an interview with JIS News, Principal, Paul Hall, disclosed that only 11 per cent of fifth form students received a passing grade in the last sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

The national pass rate was 39 per cent.

“We do believe that maths is crucial. For any nation to move forward, maths, English, science and technology is a must,” he reasoned.

Mr. Hall shared that the school is equipped with a Mathematics Laboratory and intends to host its annual two-week Easter Mathematics Camp in the next school term.

“In addition to that, we have Saturday classes free to the students, every Saturday, albeit the two weeks out of December that we take a break. It’s free of cost to them but it costs the school because we have to pay the teachers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hall shared that the school has also partnered with Mico University College to offer weekly assistance to students on Wednesdays.

He shared that the school’s Mathematics Accelerated Programme targets grade 10 students who are excelling in the subject.

“We did it last year and this year we intend to do it again. We engage grade 10 students who we see with the capability of being able to do well and encourage them to sit the subject. This year, we are going to be sending up approximately 20 of them,” he shared.

He hopes that with the suite of intervention strategies, students will improve overtime.