Tackling the Math & Science demon: Educational research takes the lead

Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 7

In an attempt to make mathematics and science education more enjoyable and attractive, the department of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has organized a two-day state level workshop on the two often-dreaded subjects. The workshop is being conducted with the theme “Learn Maths & Science joyfully” The event commenced on Thursday in the SCERT’s conference hall in Kohima town.
Having felt that there is an imperative need to review, assess and initiate measures to bring about qualitative improvement in mathematics and science education in the state, the SCERT has come out with the state level workshop, to identify the reasons behind the poor performance and problems faced by the students in the two subjects, while also attempting to make it more simple, attractive and fun for both teachers and pupils.
With the importance of mathematics and science increasingly being understood as critical and relevant subjects, especially in the context of the significant advancement in technological field, another objective of the workshop is to obtain feedbacks and suggestion to remedy the current state of Mathematics and Science education in the State and further to review the existing textbook, curriculum and teacher training program, according to the keynote address delivered by Thungchibemo Lotha, Reader, during the inaugural function.
He impressed upon the gathering that the two-day workshop will make a sincere effort to make mathematics and science teaching and learning process more enjoyable and attractive.
Sadly, it was brought to notice that, schools in Nagaland have not been able to achieve the desired level of Mathematics and Science as per the research and reports. While on the other hand, our neighboring State Manipur has considerably advanced in these two subjects, which in the process become very decisive in choosing the profession of the students.
SCERT’s Director Vipralhou Kesiezie underscored the need to evolve strategies in making mathematics and Science education attractive, interesting, easy to learn, joyful and rewarding.
“Many people think that Mathematics and Science are difficult subjects hence, many avoid these two subjects. But, the few who understand the basics of maths and science find these subjects as the most rewarding and best scoring subjects as it is not difficult to score 100% in maths and science, whereas it is extremely difficult to score 100% in other subjects,” Kesiezie said.
“We want to transform maths and science as the most interesting and enjoyable subjects; thereby attracting talented students to pursue mathematics and science education in higher education and universities,” he added.
While reasoning out the factors responsible for making mathematics and science education difficult, he attributed to factors such as – only one Government Science College in the State, very few schools in Hr Sec schools offering science stream, absence of medical college nor engineering college in the State except a few poorly managed polytechnic schools, acute shortage of mathematics and science teachers in all government schools, poor methods of teaching and language, lack of planning and vision in all sectors and poor study habits, etc.
The guest of honor for the inaugural function, Commissioner & Secretary SCERT & DSE, FP Solo observed the education system in the State as being lope-sided and further pointed out that it (education system in the State) is heavily biased in favor of Arts education.
“Out of the 60 colleges including 15 government colleges in the State, only seven colleges offer science. Under Post Matric scholarship schemes, the distribution among different disciplines drastically varies. Arts stream covers 84.4 %, Science covers 11.23 %, Commerce – 3.37 % and others at a low 1.34 %,” he said.
While suggesting the need to seriously ponder upon, introspect and retrospect as to why Nagaland is weak in mathematics and science education, he expressed hope that the two-day workshop will be able to generate many ideas and bring out concrete suggestions for promotion of mathematics and science education in the state.
Chief Secretary of Nagaland Pankaj Kumar, who was the chief guest, also suggested making mathematics and science education ‘routine-less’ in order to make them more interesting and joyful.
“Observing the present situation of maths and science education in the state, it resembles to me a crisis,” he remarked while he also expressed hope that the workshop will go a long way in making a meaningful difference in the course of promotion of maths and science education in the State.
The two-day workshop, which will conclude Friday afternoon, will be graced by Parliamentary Secretary for SCERT as the chief guest. There will be presentation of reports of both mathematics and science at the closing function.
But all is not lost…
The dread Naga students have for mathematics and science is a convention. However, all is not lost. Somewhere, battles are being won in the ‘fight’ to make mathematics and science less ‘terrifying’ of course. For instance, St Mary’s Residential School in Alichen in Mokokchung district doesn’t seem to be having that bad.
The school issued a press release on Thursday explaining that the subject of mathematics isn’t too dreadful after all. The statement from the institution claimed good scores in the subject from a number of its students.
“Students of SMRS, Alichen prove that maths is an interesting subject by getting 9 distinctions in maths out of 11 students appeared and passed in HSLSC 2015 exam,” the school informed. The students are:
Mendensangba Longkumer
97% in Maths (Longkhum)
Chennungmenla Longchar
92% in Maths (Longkhum)
Imkongakum
90% in Maths (Settsu)
Imlikala Imchen
89% in Maths (Alichen)
Imlisunep L Longkumer
88% in Maths (Mkg town)
Bendangnaro Longkumer
84% in Maths (Alichen)
Nokenmeren Jamir
83% in Maths (Alichen)
Longrichila S Jamir
82% in Maths (Longkhum)
Chenkatula Sor
81% in Maths (Longkhum)

“Also, three students scored overall distinction with Imlikala Imchen – 84%, Chennungmenla Longchar – 83% and Mendensangba Longkumer – 82%. This comes to 27% overall distinctions and 90% high first division i.e. 10 first divisions out of 11 appeared and passed with only one high second division (57%). Of the first divisioners, the least overall percentage being 71% and the highest overall percentage being 84%,” the school stated.
Indeed, the battle to demystify mathematics seems to be making good progress.