RATIONALE

The guiding principles of the Mathematics syllabus direct that Mathematics as taught in Caribbean schools should be relevant to the existing and anticipated needs of Caribbean society, related to the abilities and interests of Caribbean students and aligned with the philosophy of the educational system. These principles focus attention on the use of Mathematics as a problem solving tool, as well as on some of the fundamental concepts which help to unify Mathematics as a body of knowledge. The syllabus explains general and unifying concepts that facilitate the study of Mathematics as a coherent subject rather than as a set of unrelated topics.

Every citizen needs basic computational skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) and the ability to use these mentally to solve everyday problems. All citizens should recognise the importance of accuracy in computation as the foundation for deductions and decisions based on the results. In addition, the citizen should have, where possible, a choice of mathematical techniques to be applied in a variety of situations. A ‘range of mathematical techniques’ is therefore, specified in recognition of the need to accommodate different levels of ability. Citizens need to use Mathematics in many forms of decision making: shopping, paying bills, budgeting and for the achievement of personal goals, critically evaluating advertisements, taxation, investing, commercial activities, banking, working with and using current technologies, measurements and understanding data in the media. Improving efficiency and skills in these matters will be beneficial to the community as well as to the individual.

The syllabus seeks to provide for the needs of specific mathematical techniques in the future careers of students, for example, in agriculture and in commercial and technical fields. By the end of the normal secondary school course, students should appreciate that the various branches of Mathematics are not rigidly segregated and that the approach to the solution of any problem is not necessarily unique.

This syllabus will contribute to the development of the Ideal Caribbean Person as articulated by the CARICOM Heads of Government in the following areas: “demonstrate multiple literacies, independent and critical thinking and innovative application of science and technology to problem solving. Such a person should also demonstrate a positive work attitude and value and display creative imagination and entrepreneurship”. In keeping with the UNESCO Pillars of Learning, on completion of this course the study, students will learn to do, learn to be and learn to transform themselves and society.

AIMS

This syllabus aims to:

1. help students appreciate the use of mathematics as a form of communication;
2. help students acquire a range of mathematical techniques and skills and to foster and maintain the awareness of the importance of accuracy;
3. make Mathematics relevant to the interests and experiences of students by helping them to recognise Mathematics in their environment;
4. cultivate the ability to apply mathematical knowledge to the solution of problems which are meaningful to students as citizens;
5. help students cultivate the ability to think logically and critically;
6. help students develop positive attitudes, such as open-mindedness, self-reliance, persistence and a spirit of enquiry;
7. prepare students for the use of Mathematics in further studies;
8. help students develop an appreciation of the wide application of Mathematics and its influence in the development and advancement of civilisation;
9. help students become increasingly aware of the unifying structure of Mathematics