Place of Mathematics in School
Curriculum
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By
Sayasree Bordoloi
Introduction:
• Mathematics is a fundamental part of human thought and logic,
and integral to attempts at understanding the world and ourselves.
Mathematics provides an effective way of building mental
discipline and encourages logical reasoning and mental rigor.
• In addition, mathematical knowledge plays a crucial role in
understanding the contents of other school subjects such as
science, social studies, and even music and art .
• In education, a curriculum is broadly defined as the totality of
student experiences that occur in the educational process.
• The term often refers specifically to a planned sequence of
instruction, or to a view of the student's experiences in terms
of the educator's or school's instructional goals.
• The word "curriculum" began as a Latin word which means "a
race" or "the course of a race" (which in turn derives from
the verb currere meaning "to run/to proceed").
• Curriculum includes all those activities,
experiences and environment which the child
receives during his educational career under
the guidance of educational authorities.
• Thus curriculum is the total education of the
child.
• Curriculum touches all the aspects of the life of the pupils- the
need and interest of pupils environment which should be
educationally congenial to them, ways and manners in which
their interest can be warmed up, the procedures and approaches
which cause effective learning among them, the social
efficiency of the individual and how they fit in with the
community around.
• In education, the importance and the place of a particular
subject depends on the fact that “to what extent the
subject is helpful in achieving the aims of the
education”.
• If any subject is more useful for achieving educational
objectives then its importance increases accordingly.
• Since ancient times mathematics has played a vital role in
‘achieving aims of education, as compared to others. Present
age is the age of science and information. Whatever,
technological and physical progress being made, shall be
correspondent to the role of mathematics.
• Being so important “What place should be given to
mathematics in the curriculum?”
• In school Kothari Commission has explained about
placing mathematics as a compulsory subject up to
higher secondary or tenth standard and has said,
“Mathematics should be made a compulsory subject
for the students of 1st to 10 th standard, as a part of
general education.”
• But some people lay more emphasis on making it an
optional subject after eight-standard, therefore
various reasons were framed against this proposal:
• It is very difficult subject and its learning requires a
sharp brain and intelligence, as many children will
face difficulties for gaining the knowledge.
• It is only an imagination the mental abilities,
discipline, culture, social and moral developments
can be done by mathematics.
• The numbers of failures in mathematics in high school
examination are more as compared to that of other
subjects.
• Every student can’t become an engineer or a technician,
then what is the necessity of mathematics for all.
• In this way, the reasons foreboding the compulsion of
mathematics up to tenth standard seems to ideological.
• All great educationalist like Herbert, Pestolozzi etc. has
accepted mathematics as a symbol of human development.
Accepting mathematics as a best means of intellectual and
cultural developments, these educationists placed
mathematics on the top in the curriculum.
• Thus we can give certain logical points regarding
mathematics as a compulsory subject.
• These are as follows:
• If mathematics is not given an important place in the
curriculum then students would not get any
opportunity for mental training and in the absence of
which their intellectual development might be
affected.
• For gaining the knowledge of mathematics no innate power is
required, which is separate from ability of study of other
subject.
• Training of reasoning, thinking, discipline, self confidence and
emotions are developed in students by mathematics.
• Through mathematics child leads to gain knowledge
systematically.
• It is needed either forwardly for studying almost all the
subjects because it is considered as the basis of science and
each and every art.
• Thus on the basis of above discussion, we can conclude that
mathematics is only subject whose knowledge is needed for
the whole life. It can be possible only when every child will
study mathematics as a compulsory subject up to tenth
standard.
• Mathematics occupies a prominent place in men’s life, from an
engineer to technician or labour to finance minister and other
businessmen, all needed the help of mathematics according to their
requirements. The knowledge of this subject is indispensable and it
is bound to grow as the need grows. A mathematical approach is
essential for any progress. Any approach devoid of mathematical
consideration is likely to lead to failure. If anybody wants to get
success in his life, he must have recourse to mathematics.
Reasons for Keeping Mathematics in School Curriculum
• Mathematics is the Basis of all Sciences: The different
branches of science likewise-Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy,
Biology, Medical Science, Geology, Astrology etc. are the
important subjects which are based on mathematics for e.g.
area, volume, weight, density, number of atoms and electrons,
medicines all are related to mathematical study.
• Mathematics provides opportunity to develop mental abilities
of the child.
• Mathematics is Related to Human Life: Right from getting up
in the morning till going to bed we need the help of
mathematics. For purchasing, planning our day, each and every
aspect involves the use of mathematics. Today in the modern
age, the knowledge of mathematics is essential and more
important in one form or the other.
• Mathematics Provides a Definite way of Thinking: The
children who study mathematics develop attitude with which
they learn to work systematically, regularly and properly. Along
with this it also develops a logical thinking in them.
• Mathematics Generates Logical Attitude : Mathematics give
training to different faculties of mind. In order to solve a
mathematical problem a child has to think logically. Every step is,
related to other step on the basis of some logic with which child
develops his mental abilities and it further effects his intellectual
development.
• Mathematics is an exact science: By the study of mathematics
child develops the attitude to accept the knowledge of mathematics
in an exact form. All mathematical concepts, formulae, facts are
related to exactness and thus it removes the feeling of doubt.
For example; 4 + 4 = 8. Which cannot be 7 or 9 etc.
• Mathematics is the study of sets and structures.
• Mathematics helps in character formation as well as
morality.
• The develops the characteristic of discipline.
• The language of mathematics is universal.
• Knowledge of mathematics is useful in the study of other
school subjects.
Thank you
