Jamaica
we have a serious mathematics Problem. No I’m not talking about integration and
differentiation.
Rather
I’m referring to the mass exodus of Mathematics teachers for greener pastures
even a student’s continue to fail mathematics as reported in the article “Not
Adding Up! - Math Teachers Flee Classrooms Leaving Students In A Bind”,
Published Sunday October 11, 2015 by Ryon Jones, The Jamaica Gleaner.
This
as many of the Mathematics teacher are either taking up lucrative jobs in
Engineering or accounting firms or jobs abroad that pay them a lot more as noted
in my Geezam blog article entitled “Why
Technology Companies are Seeking Engineers”.
Ironically,
this is because there is a shortage of qualified Engineers in Jamaica as well
as an unwillingness to pay Engineers the Full Salary as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Jamaica
facing an acute Shortage of Qualified Technicians and Engineers for upcoming
Projects”.
For
such companies they're willing to employ Mathematicians, as well as teacher
with a Science Degree, as they have the knowledge that they need but aren't
asking for huge salaries. The typical UTECH student is looking for anywhere
from JA$100,000 per month to JA$200,000 per month.
Teachers
with Mathematics or a Science Degree from a Teacher College with two (2) years
experience, typically used to salaries of JA$35,000 per month to JA$60,000 per
month, will see anything that is double e.g. JA$60,000 to JA$120,000 as fairly
decent if not good salary.
Salaries
this low in Teaching means that Engineering firms are willing to hire Mathematics
and Science Teachers, as they can afford their much lower salary demands.
So
where does this leave the High School students?? And does this mean an
opportunity for graduates of the Teacher's Colleges?
Declining passes in Mathematics
in Jamaica – Why the poor GSAT, CSEC and CAPE Passes
According
to the Ministry of Education, this brain drain is already affecting rural High
Schools badly:
1.
3.7% decline in 2015 GSAT (Grade Six
Achievement Test) Mathematics
2.
5.4% decline in 2015 CAPE Level Pure
Maths
3.
10.1% decline in Applied Maths
These
failing grades were the subject of a Jamaica Gleaner editorial in June 2015 as
reported in the article “Editorial:
Solving The Maths Problem”, Published Friday June 19, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.
In
response, the Minister of Education, Rev. Ronald Thwaites has launched a two
(2) year Math Pilot Programme in May Pen and the surrounding communities in
Clarendon to provide Mathematics training for parents as noted in the article “Education
Ministry Launches Math Pilot Programme”, published Monday September 28,
2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.
The
pilot program, which is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and
the Embassy of Japan, will see researchers from Southern Methodist University
in Dallas, Texas teaching some 1,600 households Mathematics over the two (2)
year period.
The
idea is that if parents can be taught Mathematics and reinforce the importance
of Mathematics to students, it would help to improve Mathematics scores at the
GSAT, CSEC and CAPE levels. The aim is to achieve 85% mastery of numeracy in
the Grade Four Numeracy Test up from the current 65.7%, an 8.1% increase from
2014 figures.
Mathematics and Science
Teacher shortage in Jamaica – Why JA$100,000 salaries and benefits needed to
retain Science Teachers
Coaches
and trainers will be most likely be Teachers already in Teacher Colleges but
under the PATH (Programme of Advancement through Health and Education)
Programme.
Teaching
material will be drawn from the NCNP (National Comprehensive Numeracy
Programme) for the parent workshops and home visits as noted in the article “Parents
to get maths lessons”, published Friday, September 25, 2015, The Jamaica Observer.
But
this doesn’t solve the Mathematics teacher problem. As can be seen from the
comments of many of the Principals, the Mathematics and Science Teacher exodus
is affecting them badly.
The
most recently released CSEC Exam results showing that some schools are doing so
badly at Mathematics that students that sit the exam fail to pass or even get a
Grade 1 as noted in the article “Several
Schools Failing To Achieve Grade One In English, Math - Education Ministry”,
published Tuesday October 20, 2015, The
Jamaica Gleaner.
Just
ask President of the principals association, Heather Murray. She is also
principal of Hampton School and according to her, getting a qualified Mathematics
or Science teacher is like working voodoo, quote: “I lost two (teachers) since
year, and another one to England last year, and we didn't hear until the very
last minute when they got through, because they don't have a very long window
of time to tell you. We were fortunate, because we were able to replace the
math teacher, but we didn't get a physics teacher until October, so we started
the term without one”.
And
where exactly are they going?
Salaries like
Engineering needed for Teaching – Housing, Land and Education benefits for
Teachers
Engineering
companies and abroad, where they get much better salaries, making the JA$35,000
per month pale in comparison to quote Hampton School Heather Murray: “To get a
CAPE math, physics or chemistry teacher is not easy at all as they go to the
business companies like the engineering companies. I have had to depend on a
retired chemistry teacher for the last five years”.
And
who can blame them, as JTA (Jamaica Teachers' Association) President Norman
Allen points out, as those salaries are what Teacher should really be getting,
quote: “I am not discouraging any teacher who sees an opportunity that is going
to provide for them a better way of life, in their view. So the system has to
be a little more tolerable, understanding, and I might even add knowledgeable.
Because if persons recognise the issue facing the system, I think they would be
a little more understanding”.
Logically,
this would mean an opportunity for the Mathematics and Science Graduates of
teacher's Colleges such as MICO
University College.
Ironically
many who enter MICO University College
do not qualify to do the Mathematics program because, interestingly, they did
not pass Mathematics as note in the article “Math
Teacher Problems Hurting Students”, published Thursday March 26, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.
So
as long as they current crop of Mathematics and Science Teacher graduates can
handle the extra work, there are GSAT, CSEC and CAPE students will to be
taught, to quote JTA President Norman Allen: “I know it is difficult; it is
going to be added work, because they would have been just out of college, and
for areas like CAPE and CXC, it is going to be a lot of work to get these
persons ready. But we can't dispel the fact that the teachers' colleges are
turning out trained math teachers”.
Already
as the initiators of this push, the Minister of Education is calling for
increased corporate support for Mathematics Teacher scholarships at the Teacher
Colleges as reported in the article “Thwaites
Calls For Corporate Math Support”, published Friday November 27, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.
The
Ministry of Education has also made a push for more STEM (Science, Technology,
Energy and Mining) academies with Sydney Pagon STEM Academy in Braes River, St.
Elizabeth being the first at a cost of JA$100 million per year as noted in the
article “Education
Minister Wants More Students to Attend Sydney Pagon STEM Academy”,
published December 4, 2015 By Marlon Tingling, The
Jamaica Information Service.
But
begin overworked for JA$35,000 to JA$60,000 per month is not appeal to Mathematics
and Science Graduates from MICO
University College, especially as so few of them even initially qualify to
do Mathematics or any of the Sciences in the first place.
Perhaps
it’s time for an increase in Mathematics and Science Teacher salaries as well
as Housing, Land and Education bursaries for themselves as that is the only
lever that the Minister of Education is yet to pull!!
No comments:
Post a Comment