It's been widely reported that the national average in math on the PSE is 45%. But not much is said about the fact that it doesn't get much better in high school. Only a third of the high school leavers who took the CXC basic exam got a passing grade. Well now, the Social Security Board is taking up the cause: the Board wants high schoolers to do better in math, and it has devised a programme with a clever ad campaign to encourage them to do so. We found out more this afternoon at the launching of the Math Olympiad.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
It looks like a regular music video but actually it's a recruitment tool for students in Belize's 52 high schools. Social Security wants them to participate in a Math Olympiad.
Dalila Aguilar, SSB Acting General Manager
"When we heard about the low performance in mathematics in the country, by our high school students, we felt that it was very important for somebody to start looking at lending some kind of support to any efforts that would be given towards improving that performance."
Improving that performance and their much-sullied image.
Dalila Aguilar,
"Of course there'll be a better perception, not just from young people but from everyone and I believe that at this point in time, it is time to start looking forward instead of backward."
This afternoon Social Security called in all the major education stakeholders to share in the launching of the Olympiad. School math teams will be pitted against each other on the local regional and national level. It culminates in a national competition on the first Friday of March. But this is about more than just winning a competition; the ultimate goal will be improving the national average in the CXC.
Dalila Aguilar,
"One of our main goals, as the theme states, to stimulate mathematical creativity and enthusiasm. We are looking forward for teamwork on behalf of the students. We also want them to perform better in their math exams and the long term it will also mean better CXC results."
And a catchy tune and video like this, makes even math look like fun.
Half of the country's 52 schools have committed to participate. Sample questions will be sent out in November, and regional selections begin in February, leading up to the big dance in March.
