St Bernadette’s student wins maths marathon

EXCELLENCE in mathematics is directly linked to scientific and technological advancements, according to Education Minister Hazel Manning. As such, she said, Government would always support fully any thrust in mathematics designed to sharpen the intellect of children in schools throughout the country. The Minister was due to bring greetings from the Ministry of Education at the National Mental Mathematics Prize Distribution function on Wednesday, at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, but she was otherwise engaged and her message was read to the gathering by Henry Saunders, Curriculum Officer in Mathematics.

At the function to mark  the 10th National Mental Mathematics Marathon, the first ten places went to — 1. Robert Tom Wing (St. Bernadette’s Preparatory); 2. Prithvi Ramakrishnan (International School); 3. Damian Ramoutar (Woodland Hindu); 4. Sheri Thakoordeen (Dayanand Memorial Vedic); 5. Shereen Mohammed (San Fernando ASJA); 6. Narendra Rampersad (Chaguanas Government); 7. Ria Jahoor (Macaulay Government); 8. Akash Mahabir (Specialist Learning Centre); 9. Matthew Caesar (Vistabella Presbyterian); and 10. Giselle Garcia (Montrose Government). Sponsors of the competition were Intercommercial Bank; Professor Harold Ramkisoon; Barrackpore Children’s Lunch Association; Dalman Publishers Limited; R.I.K. Services Ltd; Mohammed’s Bookstore Associates Ltd, Nigel Pirali, Lennox Petroleum Services; Eniath’s Printing Company and La Tinda Printery. In the address, the Education Minister stated that long ago mental arithmetic caused a great deal of anxiety in primary schools and punishment was the result to the extent that “many students dropped mathematics in secondary schools because of the pain and humiliation they suffered in their early years of learning. “Fortunately, the child of today is not subjected to such painful experiences and mathematics is fast becoming a subject that most pupils love,” the statement added.

The Minister was informed that “mathematics was now a favourite subject in primary schools and the fact that 741 pupils from 371 schools participated in the 2003 marathon deserves the Ministry’s commendation and high praise.” She explained that schools now had a different mathematical approach “as we live in a changing and highly technological world.” Manning paid tribute to all those involved in the Mental Marathon, from the sponsors to the facilitators, and said that it was great partnership in the interest and welfare of the youths of the nation. She added, “Your 10-year-olds may well be among the major achievers of our country in years to come and the challenge you now face is to maintain the interest and motivation to reach even greater heights so that the country can benefit from your talents.” Dr Stephan Gift, senior lecturer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UWI, St Augustine, said that his field at UWI made extensive use of mathematics “in the design of electronic circuits and systems and in the modelling of the forces underpinning engineering. “It is clear that if we are to have a modern developed society in which our citizens are completely literate they must have the basic mathematical skills necessary to understand the modern world and its awesome developments that would allow them to participate in and influence the world,” Dr Gift explained.