Over 100 out-of-school children commemorated International Day of Mathematics at the Aga Khan University's Institute for Educational Development (IED). Centered around this year's theme: 'Mathematics, Art, and Creativity', the event highlighted the deep connections between mathematical discovery and artistic expression, with fun and inclusive activities demonstrating how mathematics inspires beauty, innovation, and imaginative thinking.
Through interactive games, art-based activities, and music sessions infused with mathematical concepts, the event sparked curiosity and excitement around learning especially for children who either lacked foundational learning or found math intimidating or inaccessible. The hands-on, sensory approach broke conventional methods, helping children discover the relevance of mathematics in everyday life.
Organized in collaboration with Right to Play, the event gravitated around fun and exploration rather than rote instruction, empowering these children with a sense of confidence, curiosity, and belonging in the world of learning, key first steps toward reintegrating them into formal education pathways.
Dr Munira Amirali, Assistant Professor and IDM Event Chair at IED, set the tone in her opening remarks, stating, "Mathematics and Art offers a sensory experience for children where they begin to understand how the world around them can be explained through Mathematics and vice versa. Unconventional teaching methods leave a lasting impression on young minds which in turn enhances retention of key concepts and improves focus".
Students from IED facilitated the activities, discovering alongside the children how mathematics can be both fun and artistic. A music session led by musician Selwyn Fernandez explored the connection between mathematical sequences and rhythms in musical composition, pointing out how they engage cognitive and analytical skills.
In his closing address, Dr Farid Panjwani, Professor and Dean of IED, reflected on the event's success, saying, "This celebration reflects our commitment to reimagining education through innovative teaching practices. By engaging educators and students in sensory, creative math experiences, we foster a lifelong passion for learning and discovery."
'Approximately 26 million children remain out-of-school in Pakistan. For those actually attending school, the quality of learning often falls short; many struggle to read grade-level texts even in their own language or to develop basic numeracy skills expected for their age. Over 87% (Annual Status of Education Pakistan ASER 2023, Provisional March 08, 2024) are unable to perform a two-digit division. This lack of 'foundational learning' presents a key challenge for both the education sector and the country as a whole' (Pakistan's Children are not Learning: What Can We Do About It? Dr Zainab Salim, Nov 11, 2024 LUMS)
How can we as educators mitigate this pressing concern? Particularly if school going children are not achieving their language and numeracy milestones. How can we harness the attention of out-of-school children when language barriers are one of the many hinderances? The strategies applied to introduce children to basic numeracy have to be innovative and engaging in order to spark their curiosity towards learning. This event is part of Aga Khan University's effort to provide contextualized solutions to the pervading issues in our educational landscape.
