‘End rote learning of maths’

The importance of systematic learning of mathematics was stressed at an outreach programme for mathematics held at National College here on Wednesday.

Inaugurating the programme, organised by Ramanujan Mathematical Society and National College, V. Gopalakrishnan, former Executive Director, Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd, said there was a growing tendency among a section of students and teachers that mathematics could be dealt through rote learning method.

It had to be halted immediately and to be taught systematically. The learners should be able to clearly understand mathematics right from its basics to advance level. Unfortunately, the current pattern of examinations relied more on testing the memorising capacity of students.

Stressing the importance of Mathematics knowledge in engineering skills, he said engineers, who possessed good practical and understanding knowledge on mathematics, had been excelling in their assignments than others.

R. Balakrishnan, Adjunct Faculty, Bharathidasan University, said the outreach programme, attended by M.Sc., Mathematics students in and around Tiruchi, was aimed at teaching the students the basics of Mathematics and techniques. They would be trained to face the UGC/CSIR NET examinations with greater confidence.

N. Ramanujam, UGC Emeritus Fellow, Bharathidasan University and others took part.