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| Mercy, Valathungal, Kollam |
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Years ago, Mercy, a maths teacher of Government Boys High School, Kollam tested the proficiency of her students. She was shocked to find that out of 40 students, less than 5 got more than 20% marks. It set her thinking on different ways of teaching mathematics effectively. Her student-friendly approach has resulted in the invention of a maths board that teaches the principles of algebra in a game mode.
She told her students not to bring text book or note book to class, but to come for a game. After thus psychologically preparing them, she tried her experiment on Manu, who used to get 1½ % marks in class 8. However, when he finished 10th standard, he was the 2nd rank holder in maths in the school.
The success of her experiments with maths soon spread far. The then Director of Public Instructions, Joy.V.P instructed that the method be taught in all the schools of Kerala. Mercy taught the method to the teachers who in turn taught the students in their respective schools. She went to distant places to train the teachers. In the bargain, she obtained patent for 17 games she developed for the board. She is now working on converting the games to CD format.
While on visit to many schools as part of popularizing the programme, she was faced with depressing comments from the traditional maths teachers. At such times she remembered Manu and gathered inspiration from his success.
She is into popularizing the method, without thinking of any monetary benefits. Earlier, she had even pawned her necklace to organize drama for adult literacy works.
Despite an offer from the Indian School, Abu Dhabi, she continues to teach her simplified system to the poor who cannot arrange private tuition for their children. Their gratitude is my rewards, she says.
Courtesy: Gruha Lakshmi, October 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
