Bengaluru: Arithmophobia, or the fear of mathematics, is predominantly rising among students but is yet ignored, various studies reveal. Yet another survey, conducted recently, found that 89% of parents believe mathematics is the toughest subject for their wards with 81% expressing that their child’s performance in the subject is considered most important, contributing to the pressure on students.
After interviewing 1,000 parents from across the country, Cuemath a multi-format math learning programme, has found that 82% of parents believe that their wards possess a ‘natural flair’ for mathematics, while it is more difficult for others.
Elaborating on the findings of the study intended to create awareness among parents to gauge their awareness on ‘Math Anxiety’, Manan Khurma, CEO and founder of Cuemath, said that the problem is because it is seen just as a subject, but not as a skill. “Blackboard teaching and rote learning have created unnecessary hurdles for great math learning. 79% of the parents surveyed said that their child shows high interest in solving math-based activities like puzzles and Rubik’s cube, a clear indication that an engaging and intuitive way of learning will generate much more interest and curiosity from the child,” he said.
Nirmala K., a government school mathematics teacher, said that the issue has been a growing concern ever since the no-retention policy was adopted. She believes that though the policy was evolved to ensure that students do not lose their self-esteem and confidence in studies, the effect is grave when students face challenges in the ninth standard. “Losing out on major concepts from primary classes makes students hate and fear the subject. This creates anxiety among students,” she said.
Education counsellor Sunder K.M., who has been trying to tackle the issue by exploring various perspectives for the last two decades, suggests setting two different maths papers for students of Class 9 and above can be a solution. “Not all students require trigonometry, differentiation, integration and such concepts for their higher education. One paper containing these aspects of maths for technical course aspirants and another with basic arithmetic and required concepts would help students perform better academically. It will also boost their self-confidence,” he said.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has also decided to form a committee to tackle the fear of mathematics to help students and parents tackle the problem.
