Mathematic is the study of numbers, quantity, space, structure and change. There are many views among mathematicians and philosophers regarding its definition due to the ambiguity of mathematics but we can simply look at it as a study of all possible patterns (Walter Warwick Sawyer, 1955).
In this life people cannot go without mathematics because it affects all aspects of life. Those people who have difficulty in understanding mathematics would apparently have difficulties in life because mathematics is used throughout the world as an essential tool in many fields, including natural science, engineering, medicine, finance and the social sciences. It is a unique and powerful way of viewing the world around us and very vital in the survival of mankind.
Study of Mathematics will equip Solomon Islands learners with effective strategies for investigating, interpreting, explaining, and making sense of the world. Mathematicians and statisticians use symbols, graphs and diagrams to help them find and communicate patterns and relationships. They draw on a wide range of social, cultural, scientific, technological, environmental, health and economic contexts to create models to represent both in real-life and hypothetical situations.
By studying Mathematics, learners develop the ability to think creatively, critically, strategically, and logically. They learn to structure and to organize, to carry out procedures flexibly and accurately, to process and communicate information, and to enjoy intellectual challenge.
Solomon Islanders who study mathematics will able to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes to use mathematics in its applications in everyday life, in other learning areas, and in workplaces. They will learn to create models and predict outcomes, to conjecture, to justify and verify, and to seek patterns and generalizations. They will also learn to estimate with reasonableness, calculate with precision, and understand when results are precise and when they must be interpreted with uncertainty.
Mathematics is not just a body of knowledge and skills but a way of life through interpreting, predicting and understanding the world. As learners develop their numeracy skills and understanding of key concepts, they should grow more confident and motivated in their mathematical explorations. Learners need to develop self-confidence, dispositions and competence to solve practical problems. Problem solving empowers learners to take risks and the perseverance to solve problems that do not have an immediate solution.
Teachers do facilitate in this process by modelling the belief to learners that they can succeed in life only if they generate a learning environment where learners can develop positive attitudes towards learning of mathematics both in and outside of the classroom where they can apply them to help them in real life situations.
Solomon Islands needs its population to be mathematically literate if it is to navigate and be successful in the twenty-first century successfully. A high standard of numeracy is essential in every school to guarantee a healthy future for our learners. A country with no solid mathematical base is like a ship that travels in the ocean with no radar to assist in navigating the ship to safely reach home. As the saying goes, “A life without Mathematics is a life living in a vacuum.”