CORE AREAS OF CONCERN 1 Fear and Failure

CORE AREAS OF CONCERN 1. Fear and Failure 2. Disappointing Curriculum 3. Crude Assessment 4. Inadequate Teacher Preparation 5. Other Systemic Problems

FEAR AND FAILURE • Misconception – “I am not good for maths” • Fundamentals are missing – “I need time to solve this sum: others are quick and/so I quit” • It’s just boring - “long unsolved problems & complex sums” • Unlike other subjects (in language, social studies even in science student tries to demonstrates partial knowledge) mathematics is seen to have one unique answer.

DISAPPOINTING CURRICULUM • Emphasizes on procedures • Knowledge of formulas over understanding ----------------------------- • Procedures are easy - For a small number of children(talented at an early age) • This case – their understanding and capacity for reasoning remain under-exercised

CRUDE ASSESSMENT • Tests are designed (only) for assessing students’ • knowledge of procedure • Memory of formulas and facts • Concept learning is replaced by procedural memory

INADEQUATE TEACHER PREPARATION • Teachers assume that they know all the mathematics needed at the primary level • Refuse to unlearn the techniques they experienced in their school days

INADEQUATE TEACHER PREPARATION • Hesitate to practice the learning from specific pedagogic training • Inadequate teacher preparation reflects as incapacity to offer connections within mathematics

RECOMMENDATIONS Emphasize the development of Mathematical understanding and thinking in the child

RECOMMENDATIONS Making Arithmetical operations mentally and applying them in day-to-day needs has to be the outcome of learning Mathematics at the primary level

RECOMMENDATIONS Language is very important part of developing mathematical understanding