The festival fighting back against 'maths anxiety'

A festival in Londonderry is helping to alleviate the '"fear of maths" for both children and parents, organisers have said.

The two-day event in the Guildhall, which is billed as the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, is for both primary and secondary students and has more than 15 schools from across the north west taking part.

Secondary school students have also received help with understanding money management and how maths can factor into their future career choices.

Dr Sumeeta Gupta, who is founder of the NI Maths Fest, said she wants the festival to help break down the idea of "maths anxiety".

'Maths can actually be fun'

"The fear around maths is inherent in all of us, right from a young age," Dr Gupta told BBC News NI.

"In my time in education, I've seen a lot of families come to me and don't know how to help their children, but that fear of maths can then be passed down and children grow up thinking maths is hard.

"Maths is all around us, we can never escape it.

"The festival is an opportunity to tell children that maths can actually be fun."

According to research carried out in 2019 by Cambridge University's Faculty of Education and its Centre for Neuroscience, one in 10 children can suffer from despair and rage when faced with the subject.

The research was conducted by surveying 1,700 pupils, aged from eight to 13.

Emer O'Donnell, who is a teacher at Steelstown Primary School in Derry, said the event is an amazing way to change young people's perceptions around maths.

"It's making maths more current and helping them with their skills, they loved the activities and its great they can take part in their home city," she said.

Gerry, who is a 17-year-old student, said he enjoys maths and was happy to encourage younger students in seeing its value.

"We've been helping the children understand times zones and the way the sun affects the day and night cycle," he said.

"The festival shows children how maths is both fun and practical and how it might help them get a job when they're older."

'Financial Education'

Benchmark Financial Planning (BFP), who are one of the partners in NI Maths Fest, does outreach work in schools and helps children to understand personal finances and dealing with money.

"Most people leave school, and they are dealing with money before they are actually taught to do it," BFP's planning director Sinead Meenan said.

"It's important to teach how you read a payslip, debt and how you budget," she said.

"Research shows children start to have a relationship with money from around the age of seven.

"It's important we are doing it earlier and initiatives like the festival really help."

Organisers have said they hope that the festival can become an annual event and help more students find the fun in maths.