New Interdepartmental Professor, Stronger Math Requirements for Teacher Candidates Will help Strengthen Student Performance: Minister Allum
A unique collaboration between the Manitoba government and the University of Winnipeg will see the hiring of a joint professor in the faculties of education and mathematics to support excellence in teacher training in mathematics, Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum announced today.
“We need to ensure that teachers have a strong foundation in mathematics to they can help our kids acquire the basic skills they need to succeed in school and take advantage of good opportunities for the future,” said Minister Allum. “This new appointment, the first of its kind in the province, will help ensure teachers are comfortable and well prepared to teach math. When teachers are enthusiastic about a subject, they can pass that enthusiasm on to their students who will achieve more as a result.”
“A strong mathematical education is critically important and is of great interest to teachers, parents, scientists, industry and the public,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, president and vice-chancellor, University of Winnipeg. “Hiring a hybrid professor with a foot in both camps – pure mathematics and math education – represents an important step forward in the teaching of mathematics in our province, and ultimately will improve math instruction in our schools. We thank Minister Allum for supporting our efforts to have mathematics and education professors collaborating to understand how mathematics education can be principled and pragmatic: meeting students where they are, while providing science, industry and society with the skilled people we will need to face the challenges of the future.”
This year, the province introduced a revised kindergarten to Grade 8 math curriculum to ensure that students are getting basic skills in mathematics. The province is taking further steps to improve math education by updating the high school essential math course to ensure students have the necessary math skills for post‑secondary education and good jobs, establishing a Mathematics Education Advisory Committee to provide a forum where educators can share ideas on how to improve the quality of math education and learning in Manitoba, the minister said.
“Math skills are essential in many areas of our lives and well-trained teachers are the key to ensuring students get the math education they need to succeed,” he added.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Diane Poulin
Senior Communications Specialist
University of Winnipeg
204-988-7135
d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
