The three-day workshop will commence with an opening ceremony at the Enos Nutall Lecture Theatre on May 27.

Distinguished leaders in education have been invited to address the teachers during the opening ceremony, including Dr. Asburn Pinnock, President of The Mico University College; Mrs. Christine Gore, Executive Director of the Gore Family Foundation; Professor Neville Ying; Senator Damion Crawford, Opposition Spokesperson on Education, and The Honourable Dana Morris-Dixon, Minister of Education. The workshop will provide transformative insights into mathematics instruction and run daily from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM..

Mrs. Joy Baker-Gibson, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at The Mico, emphasized that the workshop will introduce “innovative instructional strategies to reimagine mathematics teaching in the classroom”. She was speaking to Television Jamaica’s Neville Bell on Smile Jamaica.

A key highlight is the participation of Mr. Heramb Kulkarni, a renowned expert and Director at CCE Finland, who will present globally validated methodologies that have enhanced mathematics education worldwide. The collaboration is an answer to the poor performance of mathematics students nationally, it seeks to bridge the gaps that exist between teaching and learning the subject across Jamaican classrooms. 

As the Western Hemisphere’s oldest teacher training institution, The Mico continues a legacy of shaping exceptional educators, and The Gore Family Foundation’s enduring partnership with the institution reflects a shared dedication to this educational excellence.

Mrs. Christine Gore said that, “our long-standing collaboration with The Mico is grounded in a shared vision of empowering educators and students. The National Mathematics workshop embodies our commitment to transforming mathematics education and equipping teachers with the tools to inspire future generations”.

The workshop is open to participants selected from among early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary mathematics educators, as well as to selected specialists from the Ministry of Education.

The University College’s President, Dr. Asburn Pinnock cited the urgent need for institutions like The Mico to focus on producing better teachers of mathematics while improving the current batch. He said that after recent reports of poor mathematics performance across Jamaica and the Caribbean,  “The Mico has a duty to help address this important issue of under performance in mathematics”.  

He said that collaborating with the Gore Family Foundation to deliver the National Mathematics Workshop is just one of the solutions that The Mico will deploy to help improve mathematics results. This year the University College will also be training its third cohort of over 250 stem scholars, including mathematics educators.

The Mico encourages qualified secondary school graduates to pursue careers in mathematics education, as it seeks to continuously enhance the skills, strategies, and expertise of Jamaica’s teachers of mathematics.

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I am honoured to welcome you all to The Mico University College for today’s launch of our National Mathematics Workshop. Today, we converge at the intersection of heritage and hope—at the oldest teacher training institution in the Western Hemisphere, now stepping boldly into the future of education, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Let me begin by challenging you to agree with me on on this truth, that mathematics is the foundation of civilization and the bedrock of modern development. From the pyramids of Giza in Egypt to Stonehenge in England, and from the Great Wall of China to the dawn of artificial intelligence – mathematics has always been the invisible architect behind our greatest achievements as a species. It is the language of logic, the engine of innovation, and the pulse of progress.

Ladies and Gentlemen consider the bumble bee’s role in pollination – essential, but often unnoticed. However as a rural man I can tell you, the role is absolutely vital and mathematics is just like the bumble bee!  I am making this connection because the bee enables the flourishing of life through its quiet labour, just as mathematics pollinates every field of life: science, technology, engineering, commerce, banking, manufacturing, and even the arts. Also, just like the bee, teachers and educators  are the pollinators of national development.

Now I want to be clear. Senators, the National Mathematics Workshop is being launched partly in response to a crisis. It is a crisis that we must work together to confront head-on, that is, the fear of mathematics, and particularly so among boys. Any teacher of mathematics will tell you that It is a fear that cripples confidence, diminishes potential, and blocks the gateway to opportunity for so many of our students. 

If we are to rise as a nation, we must dismantle this fear and replace it with mastery—and that journey begins with our educators. So teachers, you must prepare to reverse a worrying trend. Only 36% of our nation’s students passed CSEC mathematics in 2024, down from the 43% who passed the examinations in 2023.

That is why this workshop is so important. That is why The Mico partnered with the Gore Family Foundation and the Council for Creative Education Finland, to demonstrate our commitment to this effort. At The Mico we wholeheartedly believe that  investing in our teachers is investing in the development of our nation. And our teachers of mathematics are among the most critical to a simple equation: There is a proven and powerful correlation between performance in mathematics and national development indicators. And ladies and gentlemen, the multiplier effect is real! If you examine the world’s leading economies, you will find consistent and sustained investment in education generally, but especially in STEM, teacher training and remuneration. These are investments that we must also make if Jamaica is to become one of the world’s robust economies. 

The Mico’s role then, is not just academic – it is transformational, and it is  grounded in the workshop’s theme: “Education Transformation: Elevating Mathematics Teaching and Learning,”. We are answering a national call and drawing best practices from international shores.

So we are privileged today to welcome a global expert from Finland’s Council for Creative Education – arguably the finest education system in the world. Mr. Heramb Kulkarni is also a proud son of India, a nation at the forefront of ICT and technological innovation. Colleagues over these three days you will benefit from the best of both worlds – Europe and Asia – as we learn and adapt globally validated strategies for app;ication or implementation here in Jamaica.

The Mico University College takes this responsibility very seriously. Alongside this workshop, we are about to begin training our third cohort of over 250 STEM scholars, including mathematics educators. We are also reaching out to qualified secondary graduates and urging them to pursue careers in math education. We are equipping our faculty and our classrooms with 21st-century tools and mindsets.

 With your help – with the support of parliamentarians and the government, the private sector, philanthropic partners, international experts, and most importantly, our passionate educators – we will do this.

Ladies and Gentlemen let today mark a turning point. Let it mark the moment Jamaica declared that we will no longer be defined by fear of mathematics but by our confidence, competence, and creativity in teaching it.

Let us build together. Let us teach boldly. Let us transform education—and elevate a nation.

Thank you

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The team showcased two innovative dishes — pumpkin waffles and yellow yam bites — both developed using locally grown produce, highlighting Mico’s commitment to creativity, sustainability, and celebrating Jamaica’s agricultural heritage.

Their appearance not only underscored the importance of integrating local foods into modern cuisine but also shone a spotlight on the ingenuity of Jamaica’s future culinary leaders.

Catch the full feature here: Watch on Facebook or below!

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