Chinese-American inventor Mr. Robert Sun, creator of the award-winning First In Math® educational program, will address school leaders and conduct a hands-on Learning Workshop at the Indian Public Schools Conclave (IPSC) to be held on the 2nd and 3rd of December, 2015, at The Lawrence School, one of the premier residential schools in the country.
The Lawrence School in Ooty—established in 1858—stands majestically on a campus spanning 750 acres of Nilgiris beauty.
The 76th year of the IPSC Conclave will be attended by enlightened School Leaders and insightful thinkers who view education as a means of social ascension. The core theme of the Conclave is thought provoking and intellectually stimulating—The Alchemy of Learning. Solution-based keynote addresses and learning workshops seek to challenge the audience to think boldly and freely in new ways, focusing on creating sustainable 21st century learning environments.
Sun will lead the afternoon Learning Workshop on the first day of the Conclave. Other distinguished guests include Mr. Dilip Thakore, Bangalore-based publisher and editor of Education World-The Human Development Magazine, India's sole publication focusing exclusively on education news and analysis. Mr. B.S. Baswan, Director, Indian Institute of Planning & Administration and Former Secretary of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Govt. of India, will also lead a Learning Interaction.
“With the enactment of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, there has been a significant increase in the number of schools and in the enrollment of children in government schools,” explains First In Math®India Pvt. Ltd. CEO Monica Patel. “Many are first-generation learners, and coupled with the fact that they also come from impoverished socio-economic backgrounds, their influx presents unique challenges for an education system tasked with adequately supporting the diverse learning needs of all students.”
While high enrollment and diverse classrooms are a sign of healthy inclusion and participation in the education system, it means nothing unless each child receives a quality education. Ms. Sangita Chima, Headmistress of The Lawrence School and host of the Conclave, is of the belief that maths is the mother of all sciences, but also believes that this is where an achievement gap may be widening between private and government institutions.
In an attempt to join forces in addressing this issue, Mr. Sun has offered the opportunity for The Lawrence School to adopt local government schools to initiate a First in Math® project run by students—at no cost to either school!
Mr. Samuel Prabhakar, Headmaster of the Corporation School of Ooty as well as the maths teachers, have excitedly embraced this opportunity. The students of Lawrence, under the leadership of Mr. B. Suresh, (Lawrence HOD for Maths) have outlined a dynamic plan, and will start their first session in late November.
Sun’s vision is to scale this initiative across all private schools, to allow them to help as many government schools as possible. Sun says he is committed to the idea that ‘EVERY Child is First In Math’ and that children have the fundamental right to quality maths education. “All students should have powerful, engaging and fascinating experiences in learning. At that wonderful point, there is no telling how far they can go.”