Students from several primary and secondary schools across St. Mary got the opportunity to sharpen their understanding and appreciation of mathematics during the St. Mary Maths Expo staged by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.
The event, held at Galina Primary and Infant School on March 27, brought together students and educators for a day of interactive learning, problem-solving and creative exploration of mathematical concepts.
Activities included hands-on demonstrations, problem-solving competitions and collaborative exercises designed to highlight the practical application of mathematics in everyday life. Students were also engaged through games and creative presentations aimed at making the subject more relatable and enjoyable.
These included maths jingle, maths poetry, maths cheer-leading, maths mascot, maths races and daddy-and-me and mommy-and-me maths challenges.
Regional Director (Acting) in the Ministry’s Region 2, Yashieka Blackwood-Grant, said that the initiative formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen numeracy skills among students and promote a positive attitude towards mathematics.
“The primary focus of hosting this maths expo is to help our students to recognise that maths is an integral part of general life and also help them to make connections between the maths that they’re learning in their classrooms and life on a whole,” she said, noting that it also encouraged critical thinking and teamwork.
“The Ministry is pushing science, technology, engineering and mathematics/science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEM/STEAM) and whether it’s STEM or STEAM, the M in either is mathematics,” she pointed out.
Principal of Galina Primary and Infant School, Latoya Willis-Miller, welcomed the staging of the expo at the institution, noting that it provided valuable exposure for the students.
“Maths is fun and the networking with our schools will create a positive impact on our students,” she said.
This year’s staging, under the theme ‘Mathematics For All: Building Communities, Confidence, And Creativity’, marked the second parish expo in St. Mary, following last year’s inaugural event at Port Maria Primary.
Organisers indicated that the expo forms part of broader activities for Mathematics Month, which seeks to build students’ confidence in the subject and enhance their problem-solving skills.
The initiative is also aligned with the Ministry’s push to strengthen STEM education.
Students who participated expressed enthusiasm about the interactive sessions, noting that the activities helped them to better understand mathematical concepts in a fun and engaging way.
