The United States Is Looking To Singapore For Lessons In Mathematics

The governments of Singapore and the US have signed their first Memorandum of Understanding that will formalise and strengthen existing exchanges and collaborations in education between the two countries.

Singapore and the US will study Singapore's approach in the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science in schools. They will also assess the effectiveness of the use of Singapore Maths books in US schools.

Currently, Singapore Maths books are used in 140 US schools. The study could lead to more widespread adoption and use of Singapore Maths books in the US.

Singapore's strengths in maths and science gained worldwide recognition after it was ranked No 1 among 38 nations in the 1995 and 1999 International Mathematics and Science Study.

American students were ranked seventh in maths in the 1995 test and 19th in the 1999 test. In science, they finished in the middle of the pack.

Singapore Maths books have been widely praised by foreign academics for teaching the subject in an imaginative way. Pupils count blocks and pictures and the curriculum allows them to draw on what they have learnt previously in order to help them understand more complex ideas.

Professor Lai Choy Heng said that he was glad that Singapore could share its success. 'It seems as if schools in the US think that we've been doing something right. 'It will be great if more schools want to use the books.'

Prof Lai is the dean of the National University of Singapore Science faculty. He is part of a steering group comprising education officials from Singapore and the US which will oversee projects under the agreement.

Source: Channel NewsAsia (Singapore) 10 Sep 2002, The Straits Times (Singapore) 11 Sep 2002