Singapore Math Festival this October

MANILA, Philippines - Galileo Enrichment Learning Program Inc. is holding the first Singapore Math Festival on Oct. 8, 2011 at the SGV Hall, AIM Conference Center Manila in Makati City.

The first ever conference in the country to discuss Singapore Math, it will feature multi-awarded educator and math professor Queena Lee-Chua and speakers from schools in the country who have adopted the Singaporean way of teaching mathematics in their classes.

Galileo CEO Ma. Rowena Matti says the conference will introduce educators to the principles behind Singapore Math and guide them on how to implement it properly in their schools.

“I hope that through this conference, more schools will see that Singapore Math is a good way of teaching mathematics,” says Matti. “I hope that more schools will adopt it and implement it correctly.”

During the 1980s, Singapore lagged behind other countries in the world in terms of math proficiency prompting the Singapore Ministry of Education to set new goals for mathematics focusing on problem solving and model drawing. This was implemented in 1982 alongside the printing of new math textbooks to reduce a dependence on imported ones. In 1984, students in Singapore ranked 16th out of 26 nations in the Second International Science Study. By 1995, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study ranked Singapore’s students first among the different participating nations. Results of the 2007 TIMSS showed Singapore to be at the top.

Matti says a number of exclusive schools in the country have already adopted Singapore Math as a way of teaching mathematics in their classes. Ateneo de Manila has been studying this method of math instruction since 2000, even sending its faculty to Singapore to learn it. It implemented instruction via Singapore Math in 2008.

Galileo offers enrichment-learning program in English and mathematics for children from three to 12 years old. It has 24 learning centers around Metro Manila and certain key cities in the country.

It was through one of Galileo’s seminars that Assumption College decided to adapt Singapore Math in its math program. Galileo trained the Assumption faculty to use Singapore Math.

Galileo is offering an early bird rate of P2,200 for those who will register for the conference from Aug. 16 to Sept. 15. From Sept. 16 until the day of the conference, registration fee is at P2,500. A special promo is being offered for those who will register as a group. Every group of five registrants will get a free extra slot to the conference. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance, workshop materials, and morning and afternoon snacks.

For inquiries about the Singapore Math Festival, visit www.galileoenrichment.com or call 8451234.