Mathematics for All University Students

Dawn (Aug 31) carries a letter of complaint by Prof Rajput of Hyderabad about his local university making mathematics compulsory for students taking biosciences. He would like the Higher Education Commission to get this requirement removed.

The role of mathematics in science, and society generally, is misunderstood by common folk. Such lack of understanding is also prevalent in educational policy makers, most of whom were repelled by mathematics as students. Their conservative plans result in creating a large population of “educated” individuals who are unable to think logically and analytically. It also makes professionals, untrained in mathematics, unable to assess and analyze data systematically. Prof Rajput and others who are unaware of this dimension would do well to read the excellent book, “Innumeracy” by John Allen Paulos and his regular newspaper column at http://tinyurl.com/4tyhh. Mathematics thankfully is much more than what these “uses” indicate.

The fact that the wonderfully exciting subject of mathematics is taught so poorly makes it very unpopular for students in schools, who soon develop into an intense dislike or fear of it. This can, however, be reversed through proper understanding by decision makers of mathematics’ pivotal role in modern society.

A way to make the subject interesting is to introduce more exciting books into the curriculum and school libraries, provide access to a wealth of internet resources and audio-visual material for teachers and students at all levels. A vigorous nationwide program of mathematics education ought to be priority if we are to begin to think and reason in quantitative terms and in turn to act rationally. Special incentives encouraging mathematics teacher to excel in their subject is also essential. A large scale exciting mathematics training program at the Open and Virtual Universities ought to be instituted. There is already a lot of material available globally that can be quickly adapted by these universities. The secret of success, as with any other subject, is to make mathematics truly interesting.

The HEC on its part needs to create a greater awareness of the need for mathematics at all levels. In fact it should make mathematics compulsory for students of physical and biological sciences as well as the arts and humanities up to graduate level. Medical graduates should definitely get two year of solid applied mathematics. This may seem drastic to many, but no one said that significant educational progress is going to be easy!



A shorter version of this appeared at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-9-2004 _pg3_7