MOEY to introduce barcodes to boost math performance locally

In a bid to tackle the country's poor mathematics performance, the Ministry of Education and Youth is set to launch a barcode initiative, which will involve providing students with on-the-go access to mathematics practice questions.

According to Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Kasan Troupe, the initiative is aimed at improving learning outcomes, particularly in light of the concerning 38.9 per cent pass rate of public school students in the 2024 Caribbean Examination Secondary Certificate (CSEC) mathematics examination.

The low pass rate left many, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the parliamentary Opposition, concerned.

Indeed, an analysis of the all-Jamaican mathematics pass rate, meaning public, private and other schools combined, shows that 33.4 per cent of students actually passed the subject.

"We're providing extended learning support (in mathematics) through our software, and through our additional learning kits," Troupe announced at an Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC) press conference on Thursday.

"We have gone into developing barcodes... Where we have our bus stops and spaces where students gather, we'll be putting up barcodes that they can scan and get practice questions right where they are.

"So, there is learning on-the-go when they are travelling so that they can maximise (their) time and task(s)," she explained.

The barcodes are part of a broader strategy to enhance mathematics education nationally.

Other initiatives, according to Troupe, include extended learning hours, where select secondary schools will increase the subject hours from three to five hours per week. Additionally, there are to be extended teaching support for students.

Troupe emphasised that these initiatives align with ETOC’s recommendations.