Frederick Philander
17 April 2008
Windhoek — Next Monday the 3rd National Mathematics Congress will take place in Swakopmund at Namib High School.
The Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia, Dr Tjama Tjivikua, will be the keynote speaker at the congress at which occasion a National Mathematics Taskforce will be launched.
This taskforce will do research into the problems around mathematics education in the country and will make recommendations for improvement.
Over the past three years the National Mathematics Congress created a platform for sharing experiences both nationally and internationally. The enthusiastic response from all participants is proof that the congress addresses a need in the professional growth of teachers and that the congress experience will positively influence teaching in the classroom.
These professional development activities were made possible by generous sponsorship from the private sector as well as substantial financial support of the participants by the Ministry of Education.
The aims and objectives of the congress include:
To utilize professional interaction for critical reflection on the state of Mathematics in Namibia.
To create a platform for discussion around the teaching of mathematics.
To provide the opportunity for the exchange of ideas and experiences
To expose teachers to research in mathematics education.
To bring mathematics educators from all phases of education together.
To enhance the professional development of mathematics teachers.
To improve the teaching and learning of mathematics through capacity building.
Teachers share their "best practices" in the classroom.
Teachers prepare and exhibit posters with the theme "Mathematics All Around Us".
Namibian researchers present their research results in mathematics education.
Teachers attend "hands-on" workshops on using and creating teaching aids and materials.
Teachers identify common problems in mathematics education and propose possible solutions.
The main sponsors of this congress are Skorpion Zinc and the Ministry of Education. Other donors that made the congress possible include the Rössing Foundation, Walvis Bay Salt Refineries and the Pupkewitz Foundation.
Donations were also made by Air Namibia, the Hansa Hotel, Casio Calculators, MacMillan, Heinemann, Longman and Pollination Publishers.
The congress facilitators include:
Professor Mike Askew is professor of mathematics education of the King's College London. He specialises in primary school education and the development of numeracy.
Dr Danie Brink completed his PhD in mathematics education on a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Georgia in the United States. He is an experienced secondary school teacher and his contribution will focus on the knowledge of mathematics for teaching in the secondary school.
Eva Biebuyck holds a Master's degree in mathematics. She lives in Johannesburg and is involved in teacher training in South Africa and abroad.
She is an expert on hands-on mathematics activities and manipulatives. Apart from a plenary address, she will hold workshops for primary and junior secondary school teachers.
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