Children in primary sector required to learn multiplication up to 12

7 February 2012 01:08 am - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Primary sector school children will be required to learn the multiplication charts up to 12 by heart once again under the proposed changes in the education curricular, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane said today.

Minister Gunawardane told the Daily Mirror today that the education authorities had done away with this educational requirement ten years ago under reforms introduced by a foreign organisation.

As a result, he said that a generation of students without a sound knowledge in Mathematics had been produced.

“Now, we have to correct this mistake. In India, students are required to learn the multiplication charts up to 15 at Grade III. We will reintroduce the multiplication charts in our drive to impart a sound mathematical knowledge in students,” he said.

Besides, the Minister said that he participated in a workshop organised by the National Institute of Education (NIE) to discuss the preparation of syllabuses under the proposed change in the education sector. He said that students would get the opportunity to sit for the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination under different subject streams in 2015.

“Students start doing their Advanced Level studies under the five streams namely Maths, Science, Commerce, Arts and Technological Studies next year. It means they will be able to sit the exam in 2015,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)

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Comments - 19

Rathnaweera Tuesday, 07 February 2012 04:36 AM

Then almost all the politicians in Sri Lanka will have to go to the primary again.

Gamarala Tuesday, 07 February 2012 04:31 PM

Did you learn the theory behind walking or just learned to walk when you were a kid?

Jeff Tuesday, 07 February 2012 04:12 PM

This is like drinking government cool-aid ! Counting upto 12 makes no sense in the age of computers, tablet PCs and scientific calculators in cell phones. Use the time to something more productive !

Just Another Citizen Tuesday, 07 February 2012 11:02 AM

They want to mess up the already messed up education system.

loop Tuesday, 07 February 2012 09:18 AM

We don't need a minister for such small things...
WE need a minister to convert our education system to international standards !

sltk2004 Tuesday, 07 February 2012 09:14 AM

Exactly. Knowing upto 9 is enough.

Arachchi Tuesday, 07 February 2012 08:08 AM

Well said...Authoraties must look into practicality than just doing theory work

Javi Tuesday, 07 February 2012 07:18 AM

Good, same time set some basic educational qualification to become as MP. This is the only job can get without any qualification.

lk Tuesday, 07 February 2012 06:23 AM

Very good answer.

Nodrog Tuesday, 07 February 2012 04:43 AM

Good move. Should be made compulsory for MPs too!

Royalist Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:24 AM

The Minister is learning slowly by the gradually, finally! What about those students who did not by-heart multiplication tables for the past 10 years... Can't you pass a bill to make it compulsory for everybody in Sri Lanka to memorize multiplication tables up to the number of seats in the parliament!

sarath Tuesday, 07 February 2012 04:29 AM

whats so special about 12??? anyone who can learn multiplication upto 9 can do any kind of mathematics. These kinds of things are unnecessary.. and putting pressure on young kids without any reason

surendran Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:55 AM

Well done Minister at least you have realized the blunder we had made in the past.

GSK Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:53 AM

Current situation is, Our children are super smarter than us when we were at that stage,
Hon. Minister wanted them to learn multiplication ?? the policy makers wanted small ones to handle multiple issues at a time, but they mess the same thing when they processed the AL result few months back, miracle of Asia !!

Arachchi Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:36 AM

Nice move...Thus they would be able to create their own-Z-score when facing A/L exam

Calistus Jayatilleke Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:34 AM

Mr. Dana-Rina is going to make more mess in the education system by going back in time rather than going forward in these days of technological advancements.

Peiris Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:33 AM

First he should check how many of his colleagues in the house can manage this.

Aristotle Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:21 AM

Is this something new. I learnt the mathamatical tables up to 12 times in the 50s.

Ranmal de Mel Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:25 AM

Einstein was reputed not to know the tables by heart. When asked about it his reply was that he reserves his mind for greater things. Not all of us are in the same league as the great scientist but a parrot fashion memorising of the tables does not improve ones knowledge of mathematics
Rara Avis

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Children in primary sector required to learn multiplication up to 12

Comments - 19

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