Change the math mindset – Troupe

Dr Kasan Troupe, permanent secretary in the Education Ministry, is calling for a radical shift in how Jamaica approaches mathematics.

Speaking at the Mathematics Teacher of the Year Awards yesterday, she urged teachers and students to go beyond merely consuming math content to instead becoming creators of knowledge.

"We have to get our children to think in that way, not just be users of materials that they are exposed to, but to start to wonder what led to the development of this?" Troupe stated. "We need to move our teachers beyond being the sage on stage to being the guide on the side - to experiment, to make mistakes, to rebuild, to build, to destroy, and to build again."

The ministry is pushing for a transformation in the way mathematics is taught, ensuring that Jamaican students are equipped with problem-solving and critical-thinking skills necessary to compete on the global stage. Troupe emphasised that the approach to teaching mathematics must change if Jamaica is to compete globally. She pointed to the country's dominance in sports as an example of what a structured development system can achieve.

"We have the fastest man and woman in the world because of the architecture built into our development of sports," she said. "It's the same principle. If we tap into that architecture getting children exposed early, making them unafraid to make mistakes, making them believe they can be developers, innovators, engineers, then we will see results."

She also called on teachers to bring passion into their classrooms, reminding them that their work is shaping Jamaica's future.

"You are the architects of possibilities," she told the gathered educators. "Your work is not just about teaching a subject, it's about creating the future thinkers, the problem solvers, the industry leaders of tomorrow."

Troupe noted that students are already showing an inclination toward innovation, particularly in social media.

"The fact that you see them creating content on TikTok and other platforms shows that the possibility is there, the untapped talent is there. We want our students to use the mathematical principles to create and to bring something new to their space," she said.

As part of the ministry's push to improve math performance, the annual Mathematics Teacher of the Year competition was introduced to recognise outstanding educators in the field. According to Tamika Lodge-Fenton, national mathematics coordinator, the process begins with nominations in November, followed by a rigorous selection process.

"For the 2024-2025 staging of the competition, 51 nominations were received from across all seven regions," Lodge-Fenton explained. "Each semi-finalist underwent a classroom observation, leading to the selection of the top 15 candidates who advanced to round two." The competition evaluates teachers based on their instructional strategies, ability to engage students at various performance levels, use of student data to improve instruction, and efforts to promote mathematics in their schools.

After multiple rounds of evaluations, the competition culminated in the selection of a national winner. This year, Shanique Pryce from Immaculate Conception High School in Region 1 was named the 2025 Mathematics Teacher of the Year. Pryce, who emerged victorious from an intense process that included both announced and unannounced classroom observations, was recognised for her innovative teaching techniques and her ability to inspire students.

As Jamaica works towards strengthening STEM education, Troupe remains adamant that mathematics must take centrestage.

"We have to put math at the forefront," she declared. "It is critical to problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation. And if we want a better Jamaica, we must invest in it."