ComBank program to raise students' maths skills

A novel project to use online test papers to sharpen the mathematics skills of students preparing for their GCE Ordinary Level examinations was launched recently by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon with Optimized IT, an IT solutions company specialising in conducting multiple choice question (MCQ) based examinations online.

The Bank has chosen 10 schools to run a pilot project for this program, under which Optimized IT will upload a Maths test paper comprising 20 questions each week via its web portal www.mcqpal.com to be answered by students online within the set time, using the facilities of the IT labs they have received from Commercial Bank.

Optimized IT will train mathematics teachers in the selected schools on how to use this tool, instruct students on how to answer the test papers live online and provide the teachers with an evaluation of the weak areas of each student participating in the program.

"Mathematics is one of the most crucial subjects for students sitting the GCE Ordinary Level examination, because a pass is mandatory to progress to the Advanced Level," Commercial Bank's Chief Manager Operations and CSR Coordinator Mrs Priyanthi Perera said.

"Commercial Bank is already deeply involved in supporting school education through the donation of IT labs countrywide, and through its extensive support to online education via these IT labs.

This program builds on this platform and recognises the importance of raising the national pass rates in mathematics." Statistics indicate that although the national pass rate in GCE Ordinary Level mathematics has improved since 2002, it stood at around 51% in 2009.

The highest pass rate of 60% was in the Western Province in that year, while the lowest pass rate of 42% was recorded in the Uva and North Central Provinces.

The Eastern and Central Provinces showed relatively poor performances, with pass rates of 45% and 44% respectively.