"Brazil still does not take full advantage of the potential of Mathematics"

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The economic potential of mathematics is astonishing. In England, for example, it represents 16% of the GDP. In Brazil, deficiencies in the teaching and learning process of the subject hinder equal performance. But there is an expectation that the Mathematics Biennium, by bringing the subject to the center of the national debate and hosting the largest international events in the field throughout this year and next year, will contribute to the changes needed in the country, highlighted the director-general of IMPA, Marcelo Viana, in a public hearing at the Chamber of Deputies.

“I believe that Brazil is not realizing this potential because it is not training these young people adequately and on the scale that the country needs for them to be able to carry out the activities that produce this wealth. Therefore, our goal with this biennium is to transform the public image of Mathematics, with the objective of contributing to bringing our education closer to what the country already is in terms of research in the field of Mathematics,” declared Marcelo, this Thursday, during a hearing at the Education Committee, which brought together, among others, deputies Alex Canziani, from Paraná, Celso Pansera, from Rio, and the deputy executive secretary of the MEC, Felipe Sartori.

The debaters emphasized the importance of urgently approving the text of the National Common Curriculum Base (BNCC), which defines the fundamental knowledge and skills that every student needs to develop throughout Basic Education. According to them, the guidelines established by the document can help reduce the gap in mathematics education in the country.

The approval of the text, which standardizes part of the content to be taught to students, was cited by Marcelo as an example that improvements in the teaching of the subject require an effort beyond that made by teachers and academics: "It is important to continue advancing in the restructuring of the educational system, in particular, with the promulgation of the National Curriculum Base, and in the reform of High School, another initiative that we consider urgent."

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