‘A new beginning for Maths’ — Parag launches national taskforce to tackle poor performance

With many students continuing to struggle with mathematics across Guyana’s school system, Education Minister Sonia Parag has launched a new National Mathematics Taskforce aimed at transforming how the subject is taught and understood in classrooms nationwide.

The taskforce, made up of mathematics specialists from all administrative regions, recently held its first meeting at the National Centre for Education and Research Development in Georgetown, where discussions focused on long term strategies to improve national mathematics performance.

Speaking candidly to educators, Minister Parag acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges facing the education system is the gap between knowing mathematics and effectively teaching it.

She told members of the taskforce that some teachers possess strong mathematical knowledge but struggle to deliver lessons in a way students understand, while others are skilled at classroom delivery but lack deeper subject mastery.

According to the minister, improving mathematics performance must begin with strengthening teacher training at the Cyril Potter College of Education.

“You have teachers who have the knowledge, but they do not know how to deliver. You have teachers who can deliver, but they do not have the knowledge,” Parag explained, while urging the taskforce to rethink how future educators are trained.

The minister also raised concerns that many students are being taught to memorise formulas simply to pass exams instead of truly understanding mathematical concepts.

She warned that this approach leaves students vulnerable when examination questions are presented differently or require deeper reasoning skills.

“We need to rethink whether we are teaching children to understand mathematics or teaching them to memorise just to pass an exam,” Parag said.

Another major issue highlighted during the discussions was the fear and anxiety many students already associate with mathematics before entering the classroom.

The Education Minister said teachers often face the added challenge of breaking down psychological barriers students develop toward the subject from an early age.

“For many students, from the time you hear mathematics, there is already a block in your head,” she noted.

Parag also linked poor mathematics performance to literacy challenges, explaining that many children struggle to answer questions correctly because they cannot fully read or understand what is being asked.

To address that issue, the ministry is now strengthening literacy assessments at the lower school levels, with national literacy evaluations planned for Grades Two and Four.

According to the minister, children must develop strong reading comprehension skills early if they are expected to reason through mathematics problems later in their education.

During the meeting, educators proposed several ideas aimed at making mathematics more engaging and interactive for students.

Recommendations included launching national mathematics competitions, establishing maths clubs in schools, introducing weekly evaluations, creating classroom “maths walls” displaying formulas and theories, and using games and activities to make learning more enjoyable.

Parag stressed that while Guyana has already made investments in schools, training, and educational resources, stronger leadership and supervision at the school level will also be critical to achieving better outcomes.

She also called for greater parental involvement through Parent Teacher Associations, arguing that improving student performance cannot rest solely on teachers or the Ministry of Education.

“The ministry cannot do it alone, the teachers cannot do it alone and our children cannot do it alone,” the minister stated.

Moving forward, the taskforce will take its draft strategy to all regions across Guyana to gather feedback from teachers and school leaders before any final plan is implemented.

Parag said she wants the initiative to become a turning point for mathematics education in Guyana.

“I want this to be a new beginning for mathematics,” she declared.

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