THE LAUNCHING OF FREE JAPANESE MATHS CLASSES IN PENANG MATH PLATFORM

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
AT THE LAUNCHING OF FREE JAPANESE MATHS CLASSES IN PENANG MATH PLATFORM

10 FEBRUARY 2018

 

About 3 months ago in November 2017, I was here doing the Official Launch of Penang Math Platform (PMP). Since then, we had organized a math camp and regular math classes, besides hosting various workshops here in this building.

I understand there are now 14 math classes that cater to primary and secondary students, including 2 FREE Japanese math classes primarily aimed at those in the lower income bracket.

All in all, 121 students get to improve on their math competency here every week. According to the plan that PMP has put together for 2018, that number will double to about 240 by June.

The mastering of math is critical if we want to prepare our young for competent digital literacy. Why? Because the world is going digital. Industry 4.0, the Digital Economy, etc are resulting in an explosion of data – all that need to be collected, analyzed and then utilized for predicting and managing.

Hence it is very important to provide our young with a very strong foundation, in overcoming phobias and enjoying math before they can master it.

That is the reason why Japanese method of teaching math was selected by PMP, that is fun and easy to learn as well as show its practical application and benefit. Further, its unique teaching through co-operative learning allows all to learn and understand together.

And we are making this math class available to everyone especially to the children from poorer families who wants to learn math. It is FREE and the only condition is that students attend class.

But it’s NOT all study. There will be math-related events, activities, work-outs and competitions.

We have had a great start in the past 3 months. With all the planned math classes and math activities, I look forward to the Penang Math Platform achieving its vision of being the center for math learning in Penang.

Thank you.