Teachers' training to make maths lesson fun

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 30
Teachers from primary schools in the state will be given specialised training. This is being done so that they can drive the fear of a particular subject from the minds of pupils.
The Diagnostic Achievement Test (DAT) report, which was aimed at making a comparative study of the strengths and weaknesses of students in various subjects in different parts of Bengal, has revealed that most pupils have “scope for improvement” in the subject. Hence, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education has conceived of a plan to train schoolteachers so that they may teach the subject in a manner interesting to students.
“Mathematics and English are two subjects that remain a cause of fear for children in primary schools. If teachers know beforehand the sections which a student fails to understand and also how they can make the lesson easy yet interesting, students would develop a liking for the subject,” said Shulopany Bhattacharya, president of the primary board.
Studies have also revealed that weakness in mathematics is a major cause for the increase in dropout rates amongst students. “Most students lose interest in going to school because they do not understand mathematics. Thus, besides giving them mid day meals and taking other steps to ensure that dropout rates decrease, we will also have to ensure that they love mathematics,” said Bhattacharya.
Teachers will be taught ways of making calculation more interesting by using various teaching aids. “Instead of doing a calculation on the black board, if a teacher can demonstrate it with certain tangible objects in front of their eyes, like for instance, if pupils get to see how 2 + 2 equals 4, they would definitely understand it,” Bhattacharya explained.
Though primary schools would not be able to start mathematics labs like in CBSE schools in the state, teachers will be encouraged to explain to students with live examples.
Well-known mathematics scholars will prepare the curriculum for teachers’ training across the state. Teachers, especially newcomers, would be targeted for the training programme. There are almost two lakh teachers in primary schools and the board will first train a small group of teachers as master resource persons, who in turn, would train some chosen teachers as district resource persons. These district resource persons would then go out to every circle in the districts and impart the training to teachers there.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com