‘Gov’t giving more attention to sports than academics’
The Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines, the organization of math teachers responsible for the consecutive triumphs of young Filipino students in international math tournaments, laments that there is an over-emphasis on sports development in the country to the detriment of academic excellence, especially in the core subjects of Math and Science.
MTG teachers said that while the national government gives much importance to sports bodies and financial assistance to athletes competing in international events, academics and young Filipino students who compete and shine in international events are largely ignored.
“The focus on sports for us is a cause for concern because it only promotes sports among the Filipino youth while it neglects academics,” a math teacher who requested anonymity said.
The MTG said that the situation frustrates them in their efforts to promote interest in and love for Mathematics among Filipino children.
“If the government wants to push sports development, it should also give the same importance to academics to ensure that you produce a nation of healthy, productive, and well-educated citizens,” an MTG teacher said.
An MTG-trained group of 49 students last week won a crop of honors at the China Primary Math Olympiad held at the Yichang No. 20 Middle School in
The 49-student delegation, who each won an honor with high scores in the tests, came from various public and private schools nationwide.
Dr. Simon Chua, MTG president, said that there is a need to remove an apparent avoidance, even fear, of Math subjects among Filipino children and teenagers.
“We should remove this because it will limit the prospects of our young people such as in the course they will take up in college and the career they will pursue,” Chua said.
Chua stressed that the
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