Why Mathematics Is Losing Its Way in Classrooms
Ramanujan’s legacy reminds us that the problem lies not in numbers, but in how we teach them
Firdous Ahmad Najar
The celebration of Mathematics Day aims to highlight the importance of mathematics in the development of every individual’s mind in general and in the progress of the nation in particular. It serves as a reminder that mathematics is not merely a school subject but a fundamental tool that nurtures logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and scientific temper. This day is also observed to honour the extraordinary contributions of Srinivasa Ramanujan, whose work continues to inspire students, teachers, and researchers across the world.
Every year on 22 December, India observes National Mathematics Day in honour of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a man whose genius reshaped the world of numbers and expanded the boundaries of human thought. While the occasion commemorates the birth anniversary of one of history’s greatest mathematicians, it also invites the nation to confront a troubling reality: mathematics, the foundation of science and technology, is steadily losing its place in the hearts and minds of students.
Ramanujan’s life itself stands as a powerful reminder of what mathematics can achieve when curiosity is nurtured. Born in 1887 in Tamil Nadu, with minimal access to advanced books and no formal higher training, he produced mathematics so original that even the finest minds of Cambridge struggled to grasp its depth. His notebooks overflowed with formulas, identities, and theorems; many of which were rigorously proved only decades later. His work in number theory, infinite series, partition functions, continued fractions, and complex analysis continues to influence modern physics, computer science, and pure mathematics. His collaboration with G. H. Hardy remains one of the most remarkable intellectual partnerships in academic history. Recognising both his achievements and his inspirational journey, the Government of India declared December 22 as National Mathematics Day in 2012, reinforcing the idea that brilliance is not confined to privileged institutions.
Yet, despite this legacy, mathematics today faces a troubling decline. This decline is not due to the subject itself, but to the way it has been perceived over the years. Mathematics has rarely been presented as relevant or deeply connected to the world students inhabit, even though it underpins nearly every aspect of modern life. What has weakened is our pedagogical approach, our ability to communicate its beauty and purpose, and our failure to confront the silent epidemic spreading through classrooms: math phobia.
Mathematics is often perceived as difficult not because of its inherent nature, but because of the way it is taught, particularly at the foundational stage. When teaching fails to respect differences in learning pace, prior understanding, and the level of language students can easily follow, classrooms move ahead with a few learners while others silently accumulate gaps. Since mathematics develops step by step, these early gaps gradually grow into confusion, anxiety, and fear. The weakening of basic skills further deepens the problem, especially the neglect of multiplication tables. With the disappearance of regular oral practice: once an essential classroom routine, many students fail to internalise foundational operations, making even simple calculations feel overwhelming.
The consequences of such teaching become visible in higher classes, where students even up to the 10th and 12th standards struggle to calculate averages or percentages of their own marks. This reflects a system in which mathematics is taught through rote procedures rather than competency-based learning connected to real-life experiences. When concepts are explained in simple, relatable ways and linked to everyday situations, students begin to understand rather than memorise. An inclusive approach that values different ways of thinking, treats mistakes as learning opportunities, and builds relevance transforms mathematics into a subject that strengthens reasoning, confidence, and essential life skills.
Compounding this problem is the tendency to treat mathematics merely as an academic requirement rather than recognising it as an engine of cognitive development that strengthens reasoning, analytical ability, and intellectual discipline across subjects. A revealing moment during a teacher training programme at BHSS Bandipora illustrated this mindset, when a mathematics subject trainer admitted discouraging even his own capable children from pursuing the subject due to limited career progression. Such thinking, driven by material considerations rather than educational values, undermines mathematics’ core purpose and sends a damaging message to students.
Despite its central role in shaping the modern world, mathematics today battles a widespread crisis of confidence. Students increasingly view it with anxiety rather than curiosity. The consequences extend far beyond examination results; they affect the nation’s ability to produce scientists, engineers, economists, and innovators capable of leading tomorrow’s technological revolution. Math phobia does not originate in numbers themselves, but in pedagogies that prioritise answers over understanding, treat mistakes as failures, and deny students meaningful real-world connections.
Ironically, mathematics governs everyday life quietly and continuously. From navigation and timekeeping to financial planning, medical diagnostics, architecture, transportation systems, digital communication, and internet security, mathematics forms the invisible framework of modern existence. Even everyday activities; from cooking recipes to social media algorithms, depend on mathematical principles. The video games we play and the films we watch rely on geometry to create immersive three-dimensional worlds on flat screens. Removing mathematics from society would collapse modern life as we know it.
Beyond utility, mathematics reveals a hidden unity in nature. Phenomena as varied as bacterial growth, snowfall accumulation, traffic congestion, and the spread of wildfires follow universal mathematical principles that reveal order within apparent randomness. Mathematics is, in essence, the language of nature: wherever there is life, patterns emerge, and wherever patterns exist, mathematics explains their structure. Pattern and symmetry shape the universe itself and contribute to its beauty, appearing equally in art, music, architecture, and design: proving mathematics to be as creative as it is scientific.
History also shows that mathematics enables imagination to become innovation. Nikola Tesla’s creativity alone could not have produced his discoveries; it was mathematics that gave his ideas structure, precision, and feasibility. Through mathematically guided mental experimentation, Tesla refined complex systems long before building them, demonstrating how mathematics transforms vision into reality.
In the modern era, the rise of Artificial Intelligence has reinforced mathematics as a national priority. AI, machine learning, data science, and robotics rely on linear algebra, calculus, probability, statistics, geometry, graph theory, and algorithms. Geoffrey Hinton, one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence, has emphasised that while routine coding is increasingly automated, mathematics and statistical thinking will always remain valuable. A nation that neglects mathematics risks losing mastery over the very technologies it seeks to adopt.
Research further confirms mathematics’ role in holistic learning. Large-scale studies show that mathematics strengthens reading comprehension, metacognition, spatial reasoning, working memory, and critical thinking: skills essential across disciplines and throughout life. Mathematics, when taught meaningfully, becomes a powerful instrument for intellectual growth rather than a source of fear.
As India celebrates National Mathematics Day, it must recognise that mathematics is not merely an academic subject but a national resource. Reviving its status requires teachers to adopt pedagogies that make mathematics simple, meaningful, and connected to children’s lived experiences. Schools must organise seminars and discussions that highlight mathematics as a source of creativity, critical thinking, and mental exercise rather than anxiety. Mathematics thrives where curiosity thrives.
National Mathematics Day, therefore, is not merely a tribute to Srinivasa Ramanujan. It is a reminder of what India can achieve when it believes in the power of numbers. Mathematics is the language of logic, the engine of innovation, and the foundation of the future. In a world governed by data and algorithms, India cannot afford to let fear dictate its educational destiny. Let this day renew the nation’s commitment to mathematical thinking and allow every child to discover that numbers are not barriers, but bridges to possibility.
The writer is a teacher from Arin Bandipora and can be reached at
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