Math Matters - Equip Marginalized Women to become Math Educators

Anjali, third of four sisters, is a young woman from a village in Himachal Pradesh. She hid behind others in Math Classes, dropping the subject at the earliest opportunity. Math anxiety and phobia have become living “villains” of almost all students in the Indian subcontinent. According to the 2018 report by ASER, more than 75% of government and 60% of private school 5th graders were not able to solve a division problem. 

Jayaprada from Alwar, Rajasthan, always wished to teach students and do something but had to marry due to personal circumstances. Nidhi from Patna, Bihar, before getting a job, was not involved in decision making in her family and was financially dependent on her parents. There are so many such women in India who are not able to pursue their higher education, not able to get a job or start a business and hence are unable to earn money as well as respect in their own homes.

It is no secret that women in India are constantly underestimated for their knowledge and skills. For women in underserved communities who often don’t go to degree colleges, end up in labor-intensive informal markets with low pay.

Aavishkaar is a center where teachers and young thinkers find a platform to discover the creative, curious and critical thinking side of themselves while exploring the world of Math and Science. We aim at making high quality Science and Math education accessible to all.

We aim to educate, equip and enable 100 women in Primary Math Education to reach 3000 students. We will do this through a math-teaching capacity building program for aspiring women teachers from marginalized communities. Our program, Math Matters, addresses the problems of women employment and math phobia. The program focuses on creating educators with strong conceptual understanding and student centric pedagogical practices. 

This is an opportunity for women to become a math educator which will open pathways to numerous earning opportunities that will not just improve their financial status but also lead to an overall enhancement of self & being!

Anjali came to Aavishkaar to build a career, and the only vacancy we had was in the Math Educator Program. Anjali today teaches students of primary & middle school, conducts student camps, travels across the country working with students and teachers. She makes Rs. 16000 per month and provides financial support to her family. Anjali is a decision-maker!

We have worked with 100 such women in the past 2 years. Now we aim to educate, equip and enable 100 women in Primary Math Education to reach 3000 students.