Supporting Math Education: Bridging the Gap Between Classrooms and Policy

The JICA PNG Office is working to improve the quality of math education by fostering collaboration between JICA Volunteers and the Ministry of Education.
Mr. Yu Suzuki, a JICA Volunteer based at Popondetta Primary School in Oro Province, has been providing feedback to the Ministry's Grade 1 and 2 math textbook development team, sharing insights and challenges from the field to enhance the effective use of textbooks.

Improving Math Education Through Field Feedback

Last year, Grade 1 and 2 national math textbooks were distributed to schools in Oro Province. However, challenges have been identified at the classroom level, including difficulties with multiplication and geometry topics, as well as insufficient teaching time for learning to read clocks. Additionally, many schools face a lack of teaching materials, requiring multiple students to share a single textbook.

Mr. Suzuki has introduced Japanese teaching methods in his lessons to address these challenges. For example, he uses songs to help students memorize multiplication tables and creates simple teaching materials for geometry lessons to aid comprehension. These innovative approaches have been shared with the textbook development team, highlighting the practical challenges faced in classrooms and fostering discussions on potential improvements.

Strengthening the Link Between Classrooms and Policy

This initiative marked the first time the textbook development team directly received feedback from the field. Discussions focused on practical issues, such as curriculum timing for certain topics and the need for additional resources to enhance teaching effectiveness. This collaboration has not only highlighted areas for improvement in the textbooks but also strengthened the connection between classroom practices and policy development.