The general aim of the conference, which is being held today and tomorrow at the Centru Gwanni Pawlu II in Attard, is to create a forum where professionals can freely exchange views on local and international practice with regard to the teaching and learning of mathematics that will lead to initiatives being taken to improve the current situation.

This is the second national conference of its kind. The first one, held earlier this year, focused on the teaching of English.

The conference will be opened by Education Minister Louis Galea and the keynote speech will be presented by Professor Margaret Brown from King’s College, University of London.

Prof. Brown has been Professor of Mathematics Education at King’s College, London since 1990, and was Head of the School of Education between 1992 and 1996.

She has served on a number of UK Government committees, such as the National Curriculum Mathematics Working Group, the Task Force on Numeracy, a number of committees of the Qualifications and Curriculum Agency, the Royal Society Joint Mathematical Council Working Group on the Teaching of Geometry 11-18 and the Research Assessment Exercise Panel for Education.

Prof. Brown will also be holding a pre-conference workshop for professionals in the education sector.

The conference forms part of the Education Ministry’s commitment to improve quality education for all. It believes that opportunities such as these conferences present an excellent opportunity to discuss relevant issues and listen to suggestions and recommendations from the all parties involved.