The Ministry of Education and Youth will host its annual National Mathematics Week of activities from Sunday, April 14 to Friday, April 19, under the theme ‘Adding Up the Excitement: Maths Rocks’.
Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on Thursday (April 11), Mathematics Coordinator for the Ministry’s Region Seven, Camae Johnson Burrell, said wide-ranging activities have been planned to mark the week.
These will kick off with a national service at Webster Memorial United Church in Kingston on April 14, beginning 10:00 a.m.
More than 110 students from primary and secondary institutions who participated in the Jamaica Mathematics Olympiad, an initiative of the University of the West Indies (UWI), will be recognised during an awards ceremony on April 15.
The Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award will also be presented during that event.
Regional mathematics activities are scheduled to begin on April 16., with the first slated for Cedar Grove Academy in St. Catherine for Region Six.
The engagements will continue on April 17 at The Mico University College for Region One; Munro College in St. Elizabeth for Region Five; and Ashley Primary School in Clarendon for Region Six.
These will conclude on April 18 at Port Rhodes Sports Club, Discovery Bay Bauxite Partners, St. Ann, for Region Five; the Port Antonio High School in Portland for Region Two, and Cornwall College, Montego Bay, St. James, for Region Four.
Students will also have an opportunity to test their knowledge by answering the Mathematics Question of the Day throughout the Week.
These will be posted on the Ministry’s Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram pages.
According to Mrs. Johnson Burrell, these regional activities are geared to positively change the negative perception that students and Jamaicans on a whole have about mathematics.
She pointed out that in previous years, a national maths exposition was held at the UWI Mona Campus.
However, in an effort to increase participation from schools across Jamaica, the decision was taken to have regional activities instead.
Parents, community members, corporate Jamaica and, by extension, the general public are being encouraged to visit the schools hosting the week-long activities and support.