Of all the subjects found in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, mathematics is probably the most dreaded. But teacher Timothy Dupre of the St. Aloysius R.C. Boys’ Primary school, an expert mathematician, believes the subject has gotten a bum rap. He remains confident that the method of teaching the subject is key to improving grades, and not without reason. In January of this year one of Dupre’s students, 12-year-old Bry-Ann King, a first former of the Saint Joseph’s Convent, attained a 2 Grade in general maths, after just four months of tutoring. “I feel proud,” said King of the accomplishment, despite her admitted disappointment at not having attained a 1 Grade.
She continued: “It was hard work, but it really paid off.” About Dupre, she said, “He’s a very great mathematician. He really helped me. I was confused with a lot of the topics because they were new to me. But with his and my maths teacher’s help at the Convent, I was able to do it. Once I learned the method, the work was easy.” But King is not the only first form student to have accomplished this feat. Two years ago her brother Ryn-Kyj King also got a 2 in maths. He had undergone lessons for a year with Dupre and, at age 11, sat the exam. The Saint Mary’s College student joked that he had in fact outperformed his sister, the sibling rivalry more than evident. “With my 2 Grade I got B,B,C while she got B,C,C.”
He spoke about the advice he had given his little sister before she wrote the exam. “I told her not to be nervous during the exam.” Recalling his own preparation, he said: “At first it was a very tough experience. I had to take two classes, which was very tiring since I had a lot of school work.” About his accomplishment, he stated: “I was very excited because I never thought I’d be able to get such a grade.”
In a message to students who may not be optimistic about maths, the Samarian declared: “Believe in yourself. Never give up because, once you do, you’ve already failed.” He also chimed in on Dupre: “He is a great teacher. He motivated me through those difficult moments and helped me to get that grade.”
Dupre told the STAR that after studying maths at university level he realised there was no reason why students should need five years to attain a pass grade in the subject at the CSEC exams. “After completing my first degree from the University of the West Indies in 2012, I compiled a thesis which focused on problem-solving and why students fail mathematics. Also, at teachers’ college, I focused on problem-solving and why students are not performing in the subject; and based on all the research I did when compiling my thesis, I realised that the real problem is not that students are out of practice; it’s that students have no reason for what they are doing. And everything in the subject is about reasoning. Everything in math makes sense to me. Given that this is the case, just getting the students to realise this, will go a long way in them getting a pass grade for it, very, very early.”
Dupre hopes he can get to spread the wealth in the future, saying: “I’m looking to get into a secondary school. Even though I work with just a class or two of CXC students, if I’m at a secondary school then I can definitely work with a lot more students and they too can realise their true potential in mathematics and perhaps education as well.”
The R.C. Boys’ teacher recalled a conversation with a colleague who had asked how exactly he got a first form student to pass maths and understand the vectors topic: “With my extensive knowledge of vectors, I told him once the student can walk straight he or she can understand and complete any vector problem. Vectors, even if it is a huge topic in the subject, can be understood very easily.”
When asked if he would welcome assisting the Education Department’s quest to improve the country’s annual CSEC grades, Dupre replied: “Definitely. Teachers will always be available for dialogue. I’m perfectly willing to share my techniques and strategies with any teacher. I believe that success in something like this does not belong to me only.N
