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 |
