Mental Arithmetic and Mathematical Skills in Primary School. A Comparative Perspective Between Two Post-Colonial Education Systems: Martinique and Senegal

Manuel Philippe Emile Garcon (1, 2, 3, 4) , Maurizio Alì (5, 6, 3, 2, 1, 4, 7) , Rosmery Fundora Cruz (4, 2, 3) , Nathanaël André Nicar (4, 2, 3)

1 CRREF - Centre de recherches et de ressources en éducation et formation [UR6_3]
2 UA - Université des Antilles
3 Université des Antilles (Pôle Martinique)
4 INSPÉ Martinique - Institut national supérieur du professorat et de l'éducation - Académie de Martinique
5 EASTCO - Sociétés Traditionnelles et Contemporaines en Océanie (EA 4241)
6 CIÉRA - Centre interuniversitaire d'études et de recherches autochtones
7 OCCS - Observatoire Caribéen du Climat Scolaire

Several research studies have suggested that negative social representations associated with mathematics have an impact on school performance. These representations are the product of a culture, develop within a learning ecosystem and are dependent on the socioeconomic context. In some post-colonial territories, for example, they have been shaped by prejudices and stereotypes inherited from the colonial past. This article presents the results of a study conducted among primary school pupils in two postcolonial contexts, Senegal (N=2973) and Martinique (N=2710) using a psychometric tool, the Test de Repérage des Difficultés en Mathématiques.

Diverse ricerche hanno suggerito che le rappresentazioni sociali negative associate alla matematica hanno un impatto sul rendimento scolastico. Queste rappresentazioni sono il prodotto di una cultura, si sviluppano all'interno di un ecosistema di apprendimento e dipendono dal contesto socio-economico. In alcuni territori postcoloniali, ad esempio, sono state modellate da pregiudizi e stereotipi ereditati dal passato coloniale. Questo articolo presenta i risultati di uno studio condotto nelle scuole elementari di due contesti postcoloniali, il Senegal (N=2973) e la Martinica (N=2710), utilizzando uno strumento psicometrico, il Test de Repérage des Difficultés en Mathématiques.

Keywords: School performance; Didactics of mathematics; Martinique; Mental calculation; School difficulties; Martinica

Keywords: Calcul mental; Didactique des mathématiques; Difficultés scolaires; Performance scolaire; Résultats scolaires; Martinique; Sénégal; Outre-mer; Outre-mer français; Empire colonial français; Anciennes colonies

Keywords: Calcolo mentale; Didattica della matematica; Difficoltà scolastiche; Risultati scolastici

Domains: Education; Mathematics [math]; Political science; Sociology; General Mathematics [math.GM]; History and Overview [math.HO]; Humanities and Social Sciences; Social Anthropology and ethnology; Education; Library and information sciences; Linguistics; Psychology

Manuel Philippe Emile Garcon, Maurizio Alì, Rosmery Fundora Cruz, Nathanaël André Nicar. Mental Arithmetic and Mathematical Skills in Primary School. A Comparative Perspective Between Two Post-Colonial Education Systems: Martinique and Senegal. Giornale Italiano di Educazione alla Salute, Sport e Didattica Inclusiva, 2023, 7 (2), ⟨10.32043/gsd.v7i2.877⟩. ⟨hal-04106877⟩