The Ministry of Education holds a training course for mathematics teachers
In light of the recent visit of Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, to Japan, and as part of the Ministry's efforts to achieve sustainable teacher development and curriculum development, which positively impacts student capacity building and the quality of the educational process, the Ministry today organized a training course for first-grade mathematics teachers in cooperation with the Japanese Sprix Foundation. The course featured a video conference with the Foundation's mathematics experts, who explained the curriculum strategy and the contents of the new book.
The event was attended by Dr. Hanem Ahmed, Advisor to the Minister for International Cooperation and Agreements; Dr. Hala Abdel Salam, Head of the Central Administration for General Education; and Ms. Manal Ezqoul, Mathematics Advisor.
The Ministry emphasizes that this training comes in light of the Ministry's review of the first-grade textbook to enhance students' basic academic skills. It aims to help teachers deliver high-quality lessons using the new book. The training focuses on introducing the content of the new edition, clarifying teaching points, and providing classroom management training and implementing weekly tests.
The Ministry explains that the learning strategy focuses on developing thinking skills and communication through mathematical activities. It also focuses on making mathematics more accessible to students by relying on concrete stories that help them gain a deeper understanding of the concept of addition. Furthermore, students presenting their own problems and listening to their peers' ideas contributes to deepening their knowledge and enhancing their enjoyment of learning.
The Ministry notes that the "Sprix" methodology is based on several principles, most notably simplifying explanations to facilitate comprehension, encouraging re-explanations to verify students' comprehension, using positive reinforcement through words of encouragement, and linking each lesson to homework that is monitored and evaluated. The methodology also features dividing the curriculum into small steps and adopting a simplified teaching approach that allows teachers flexibility and allows them to begin explaining directly. It also relies on a clear connection between what the teacher presents and what the student produces, reflecting a focus on active learning.
The Ministry also emphasizes that assessment is an essential element of the educational process, as its role is not limited to measuring student level, but rather extends to being a means of development and improvement. Weekly tests are conducted to monitor student progress and consolidate the skills they have acquired, with the possibility of adapting their timing according to the circumstances of each school.