Schools around the country have recorded low pass rates in the external mathematics examination paper set for Year 13 this year.

This has caused a flurry of disappointment and frustration voiced by parents, teachers and school heads.

Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga said the problem was more than a tough paper.

Despite criticisms being thrown at the Ministry of Education, he said this reflected what was being taught in schools and it was now time to look at improving it.

He said this could be traced back to how maths was taught since primary schools.

The Permanent Secretary for Education, Alison Burchell, declined to comment on the subject.

In Nausori, Saraswati College had a pass rate of 18 per cent, while Vunimono had a pass rate of 11 per cent in mathematics.

In comparison, both schools had more than 70 per cent pass rates last year.

In the North, Guru Nanak Secondary had an 11 per cent pass rate, while Bua Secondary recorded a zero-pass rate. Last year, Guru Nanak’s pass rate in mathematics was around 60 per cent while Bua College recorded a healthier pass rate. For Bua College the school had to do without a mathematics teacher for most of the year.

Jai Narayan College and Rishikul College, which have been top academic performers at national levels, also had a large number of students not doing well in the subject, but scored above average pass rates for the overall examination.

Queen Victoria School Parents and Teachers Association also raised queries after many students did not do well in maths.

Heads of schools contacted yesterday said their maths teachers also found the paper tough to solve adding that it was not set in the ratio of questions, which was accepted.

Principals said there was a decline in the understanding of the subject and was only reflected this year because the paper was tougher.

Paula Manumanunitoga – General Secretary FTA

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Edited by Naisa Koroi

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