OBJECTIVES
AND ACTIVITIES
BACKGROUND
AND OBJECTIVES:
Mathematics Education Trust, Assam
(META) came into existence in June, 2004 at the initiative of a group of
likeminded people engaged in promotion of mathematics education in the
North-east region of the country. These individuals have been involved in
various activities like Mathematics Training and Talent Search (MT&TS)
Programme of NBHM, Mathematics Olympiad and other voluntary training programmes
in this region for the last several years. The experience of these activities
suggests that there is a conspicuous gap between the students of this region
and the rest of the country in terms of the level of quality and maturity.
Therefore, it is felt that unless some special attention is given externally
and from a much lower level, there is hardly any hope for improvement of
mathematics education in this region only through formal education.
As a result, the trust was formally
formed with the following objectives:
1.
To
organize workshops, seminars and such other activities for improving the
awareness and standard of mathematics education in this region.
2.
To encourage young and committed
school and college teachers to act as disseminators of the cause of quality
mathematics education.
3.
To develop educational aids and
techniques relevant to the specific scenario prevalent in this region.
4.
To support promising and needy
students of mathematics by providing them financial assistance to pursue their
studies.
5.
To support and provide financial
aid and expertise to other centres or institutions to take up activities and
programmes in accordance with the stated objectives.
ORGANIZATION:
The core of the Trust is the Board
of Trustees, currently having the following members as trustees:
Prof. Tarakeswar Choudhary, Presently
Visiting Professor, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam.
Prof. Nanda Ram Das, Department of
Mathematics, Gauhati University, Guwahati.
Dr. Meenaxi Bhattacharjee, Department
of Mathematics, University of Wuerzburg, Germany.
Dr. Swaroop Nandan Bora, Department of Mathematics, IIT
Guwahati, Guwahati.
Dr. Bhaba Kumar Sarma (Managing Trustee), Department of
Mathematics, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati.
To plan and carry out its various
activities, the Trust has a Programme Committee comprising of fifteen members
nominated by the Board of Trustees drawn from different parts of this region
(presently all are from the state of Assam). The members of this committee are
dedicated teachers who are involved in various voluntary activities for
promotion of mathematics and science education in this region. These are some
of the people who feel concerned at the present scenario of mathematics
education and are ready to work towards its improvement.
ACADEMIC
PROGRAMMES:
The Trust started its academic
activities in July, 2005 with a series of weeklong workshops for high school
and college students at various locations in Assam. Till now the following
programmes have been held:
1. July
4-10, 2005, Darrang College, Tezpur
(For
High School Students of Sonitpur District)
Local
Coordinator: Mr. Ram Charan Deka
2. July
12-17, 2005, Birjhora Mahavidyalay, Bongaigaon
(For
High School Students of Bongaigaon District)
Local
Coordinator: Mr. Birabrata Das Choudhuri
3. September
18-24, 2005, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh
(For
Students of Colleges under Dibrugarh University)
Local
Coordinator: Dr. Surajit Borkotokey
4. December
19-25, 2005, Gurdon Govt. H.S. School, Nalbari
(For
High School Students of Nalbari District)
Local
Coordinator: Mr. Diganta Sharmah
5. December
19-25, 2007, D.C.B. Girls’ College, Jorhat
(For
High School Students of Greater Jorhat)
Local
Coordinator: Mrs. Kukila Sarma Barua
6. July
26-30, 2007, Chaiduar College, Gohpur
(For
High School Students of Gohpur)
Local
Coordinator: Mr. Sarat Sharma
(Each
of the above programmes had 35-40 participants drawn from different
institutions of those regions including a number of teacher participants. The workshops
were of interactive nature where the participants were exposed to the
fundamentals of modern mathematics and to the excitement of solving problems.
This unconventional type of learning was very productive and generated a lot of
enthusiasm among the student- and teacher participants.)
7. January
6, 2008, Don Bosco Institute, Kharghuli, Guwahati
(For
mathematics teachers of colleges and schools of Assam)]
Topic:
Mathematical Knowledge: What is it and how can it be developed
Delivered by Professor
Frode Ronning, Department of Teacher Education,
HiST (Sor-Trondelag College), Rotvoll, Norway N-7004
FINANCIAL
STATUS:
The Trust has been
organizing its current activities through the individual contributions of the
Trustees and some well-wishers. However, considering the objectives of the
Trust, the Board of Trustees feels the need for seeking financial help from
corporate, organizations and individuals.
FUTURE
PLANS:
The Trust plans to
expand its activities in conformation to its objectives. While continuing with
organizing workshops for students at district level, the Trust plans to
organize follow up programmes centrally for the bright students spotted during
its district level workshops. The last Programme Committee meeting held on
17/04/2006 resolved to organize six weeklong workshops, five school-level and
one college-level, at different places of Assam and two central programmes at
Guwahati during 2006-2007. The Trust also envisages planning towards its other
objectives in near future.
APPEAL:
To organize these
activities and to execute other future plans, the current Trust fund is highly
inadequate. The Trust looks forward to receive donations/contributions from
corporate, organizations and likeminded individuals in implementing its plans.