A comparative study on mathematics curriculum

between developed and developing countries.

Introduction:

In this assignment I shall go to present a comparison on the mathematics curriculums

between developed and developing countries. I choose Bangladesh as a developing
country and Singapore as a developed country. Here I shall give a review on the
mathematics curriculum of two countries and then a comparison between them. Finally I
have some discussions on this and shall give some recommendations.

Mathematics curriculum of secondary level in

Bangladesh:
In our country we treated class six to twelve as secondary level. This secondary level is
divided into three different parts. They are-

1. Lower secondary level (from class 6 to 8)

2. Secondary level (from class 9 to 10)

3. Higher secondary level (from 11 to 12)

After completing each level the students have to attend a board examination called J.S.C,
S.S.C and H.S.C .

Lower secondary level :

In this level the students are introduced with algebra. They also do some geometry. The
curriculum of this level is given below.

Algebra

• Introducing with algebraic term and variables.

• Simple calculation
• Introduced with different formula and rules of algebra
• Problem solving

1
Money and measures

Multiplication and division of length, mass, volume and time

Multiplication and division of money
Units of measure of volume: cubic centimeter, cubic meter
Volume of a cube / cuboids and liquid
Area and perimeter of a square, a rectangle and their related figures
Word problems

Statistics

Tables
Bar graphs
Word problems

Geometry

Simple plane figures

Simple solid figures
Angle properties
Geometrical construction of simple geometrical figures

Secondary level:

In this level a new part of mathematics is added called trigonometry. In secondary level
the students are divided into three streams called humanities, science and business
studies. the students of science division have to complete two mathematics course called
higher math and general math. On the other hand the students of other streams have to
complete only general math course.

Algebra:

Algebraic manipulation and formulae

Solutions of equations.

Geometry:

Simple plane figures

Simple solid figures
Angle properties

2
Trigonometry:

Pythagoras' theorem
Trigonometrical ratios: sine, cosine and tangent

Higher secondary level:

Only the students of science division have to complete the two mathematics courses. The
curriculum of higher secondary level is following:

Algebra: Set and functions, real number, complex number, polynomial and polynomial
equations, matrix and determinants, permutations and combinations, binomial theorem,
summation of series.

Trigonometry: Fundamental concepts of trigonometry, trigonometrical ratio of

associated and compound angles, circular function, trigonometrical equation, inverse
circular function, properties of triangles.

Geometry: coordination, the straight line, circle, conics, vector.

Calculus: Function, limit, differentiation, successive differentiation, integration, the

definite integral and its application.

Mechanics: Elementary ideas of mechanics, concurrent forces, system of coplanar

forces, motion of a particle in a straight line or plane, Newton’s laws of motion and their
application.

Discrete mathematics: linear programming, probability, computer.

3
Math curriculum of secondary level in Singapore:
In Singapore they treated class 7 to 12 as their secondary level. They named class 9 and
10 to O level and class 11 and 12 to A level.

7th grade
Arithmetic

Whole numbers
Fractions and decimals
Approximation and estimation
Use of a scientific calculator
Squares, square roots, cubes and cube roots
Number sequences
Measures and money
Ratio, proportion and rate
Percentage
Simple financial transactions
Real numbers

Integers, Rational and irrational numbers

Menstruation

Perimeter and area

Volume and surface area

Algebra

Algebraic expressions and formulae, Simple algebraic manipulation, Simple linear

equations

Geometry

4
Simple plane figures
Simple solid figures
Angle properties
Geometrical construction of simple geometrical figures

Statistics

Handling data

Problem solving

Use appropriate heuristics to solve problems, solve mathematical problems in everyday

life

8th grade
Arithmetic

Arithmetic problems
Standard form
Number sequences

Menstruation

Volume and surface area

Arc length and sector area

Algebra

Algebraic manipulation and formulae

Solutions of equations

Graphs

Graphs of linear and quadratic functions

Graphs in practical situations

Geometry

Motion geometry
Similar and congruent figures
Angle properties of polygon
Scale drawing
Symmetry

5
Statistics

Trigonometry

Pythagoras' theorem
Trigonometrical ratios: sine, cosine and tangent

Problem solving

Problem solving heuristics

Practical uses of mathematics

9th and 10th grade

Set language and notation, Functions, Quadratic functions, Indices and surds, Factors of
polynomials, Simultaneous equations, solve simultaneous equations in two
unknowns with at least one linear equation, Logarithmic and exponential functions,
Straight line graphs, Circular measure, Trigonometry, Permutations and
combinations, Binomial expansions, Vectors in 2 dimensions, Matrices,
Differentiation and integration

11th and 12th grade

Pure mathematics

Functions and graphs

Partial fractions
Inequalities; the modulus function
Logarithmic and exponential functions
Sequences and series
Permutations and combinations

Understand the terms 'permutation' and 'combination', solve problems involving

arrangements (of objects in a line or in a circle), including those involving

Trigonometry
Trigonometrical functions
Differentiation
Integration

6
Vectors
Mathematical induction
Complex numbers
Curve sketching
First order differential equations
Numerical methods

Particle mechanics

Forces and equilibrium

Kinematics of motion in a straight line
Newton's laws of motion
Energy, work and power
Linear motion under a variable force
Motion of a projectile
Hooke's law
Uniform circular motion

Probability and statistics

Probability
Discrete random variables
The normal distribution
Samples
Continuous random variables
Hypothesis testing

Discussion:

There are quite similarities between the curriculums of two countries. The content of the
two curriculums is almost same.
What is the main difference between the curriculums is in Singapore the students are
learned deeply and clearly. They go through their contents elaborately. But in Bangladesh
the students depend on their memorization in order to application.

Suggestions:

I like to give some suggestions to improve the mathematics curriculum of our country.
• We should give importance on real life problems.

7
 • We should encourage the students for practicing more.
• The teachers should teach the students more clearly and deeply
• Memorizing tendency should be discourage.
• Joyful learning method should be applied.
• Let the students know the practical application of their theoretical contents.

References:
• www.google.com
• sgbox.com
• Mathematics curriculum of secondary level in Bangladesh.
• wikipedia