Over 80 students and teachers convened at AKU’s Dar es Salaam campus on March 14 to celebrate the International Day of Mathematics. The Institute for Educational Development, East Africa (IED EA) held a mathematics workshop for the participants who were from primary and secondary schools across Tanzania. The schools included: Muhimbili primary school, Jangwani secondary school, Tambaza secondary school and Aga Khan Mzizima secondary school.
The workshop, facilitated by AKU faculty and Master of Education students, aimed to make math fun as per the day’s theme ‘Playing with Math’. The speakers demystified the negative attitudes towards math and urged students to embrace the subject unconditionally for better learning outcomes. Historically, most countries have celebrated March 14 as Pi Day because π, one of the world’s most well-known mathematical constants can be rounded to 3.14.
“Today we are not only acknowledging the importance of mathematics but also celebrate the joy of playing with mathematics,” said Prof Jane Rarieya, Dean, IED, EA. “For a long time, mathematics has been unfairly associated with dry formulas and tideous calculations. Mathematics is not just a subject that is confined to classrooms or the academics, it is the integral part of existence and it is woven in the fabric of the universe. If you look at the symmetric petal of a flower there is mathematics in it.”
A variety of activities were held, including a challenge to recite the value of pi to as many decimal places as possible, mathematical games of number sequencing, shape identification and angles using fun learning tools, and electronic games, among others.
"This event has provided us with the opportunity to network and exchange knowledge with students from other schools. Each school showcased their unique and engaging math tools for teaching and learning,” said Beatrice Msangi, a student from Jangwani Secondary School. “I believe that International Mathematics Day empowers students to transform their attitudes towards math. While we often perceive mathematics as daunting due to its challenging questions, this event has enhanced our critical thinking skills and fostered a positive mindset towards the subject.”
Each participating student received a mathematical set to support their learning journey and encourage them to appreciate the value of math.
“This event has offered a valuable learning experience for both teachers and students alike, serving as a reminder of the crucial role mathematics plays in our daily lives. It has provided us with an opportunity to not only learn from each other but also to acquire new skills and teaching techniques that enhance the teaching and learning of math,” said Hussein Juma, a mathematics teacher from Jangwani Secondary School.
AKU’s Institute for Educational Development, East Africa will continue to commemorate the international Day of Mathematics by providing continued professional development support to mathematics teachers, thereby establishing a professional learning network of teachers who will be advocates for continuous fun and engaging math symposia.
