Holness adds voice to push for math solution

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness is calling for a level of urgency in reducing what he describes as a cultural aversion to mathematics.

Holness, a former minister of education, was weighing in on the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results, which were released on Monday.

The 2013 CSEC results show that there was a five per cent increase in passes in the subject.

Yesterday, Holness told The Gleaner that though he was impressed with improvements shown in key subject areas, a collaborative effort must be initiated to improve results in mathematics.

Education Minister Ronald Thwaites has already indicated that a compre-hensive review is to take place to bolster the training of mathematics teachers at universities and teachers' colleges.

Holness said: "There is a cultural aversion in Jamaica to mathematics. So while it is important that we pursue the traditional strategy, there has to be some level of social marketing to address the psycho-social factors that create that fear for the subject."

He added: "It starts with parents encouraging their children to do math and to demystify and take away the dark cloud that has always been associated with the subject. Some urgency needs to be placed in this area. People continue to believe that it is difficult, so a strategy like that needs to be implemented."