Pupils deconstruct maths in Scholastic Hall Quiz

IT was time for a stylish deconstruction of mathematics at the Scholastic Hall Maths Quiz competition held in Lagos recently, as enthusiastic primary school pupils were tasked on mental computation (Quick Round), Critical Thinking, Picture and Data Interpretation and Practical Work.The children, from Grades 1 to 6, were drawn from The ChildVille, Grace Children, Mind Builders, the White Dove, Redeemers International and Scholastic Hall schools. Others include the Lagos Preparatory and three different units of the Corona group of schools located at Victoria Island, Apapa and Ikoyi all in Lagos.After an impressive show of intellectual prowess,  Corona School, Apapa came first,  Redeemers International School, came second while the Lagos Preparatory School clinched the third position.Explaining the makeup of the competition, the Head of Scholastic Hall school, Malika Dutta observed: In traditional Maths, pupils are taught distance, time, measurement, addition and others. But what we have done is to follow a system whereby all these concept learnt are applied in everything that the child sees around.She noted that children usually have the fear of Maths because of the way it is being taught in schools. Some schools make their pupils memorize, which does not have a long term effect in promoting the knowledge of the subject. What we have done is to bring in concepts that would help children understand Maths easily.Dutta also emphasized the need for teachers to open the minds of their pupils by teaching them that one particular concept could be used in so many ways to solve Maths questions, rather than exposing them to rote memory.Mathematics teachers have a great role to play in ensuring that children, especially when they are much younger, do not develop fear for Maths. They should make learning of Maths fun and interesting by giving them practical examples and taking them out to show them real situations, She added.Dutta also advised teachers to pay particular attention to the teaching of Maths right from the basics. If the children fail to get their basic concepts right at the foundation, then they cannot apply it as they get older, she said.On the background of the competition, she stated: This is the third edition and though we started small, we have continued to grow each year with more schools showing interest in the Maths quiz. Our goal is to groom children in totality, hence we continue to evolve new strategies in all our subjects to make learning fun for our children.
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