NIIT - Key Curriculum Press alliance

NIIT Ltd has announced a strategic alliance with US based Key Curriculum Press Inc., a leading provider of software research and development for Mathematics Education, to introduce "Mathematics Laboratories" in India schools. An MoU to this effect was signed between Mr. L Balasubramanian, President School Learning Solutions, NIIT and Mr. Steven Rasmussen, CEO, Key Curriculum Press on November 14, 2007.

"Math Lab" - a novel concept, launched on the occasion of Children's Day - will enable school student to learn and explore mathematical concepts and verify mathematical facts and theorems using technology tools such as "The Geometer's Sketchpad", together with hands-on activities using a wide variety of mathematical models. This is a dynamic construction and exploration tool that spans the mathematical Curriculum and is being made available to Indian Schools, jointly by NIIT and Key Curriculum Press.

The school curriculum governing body, the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), through the National Curriculum Framework has indicated that Mathematics subject will be treated as a prime focus area in schools, till 2010, with an emphasis on making the subject more visually appealing, and an enjoyable learning experience for students. In line with this mission, CBSE, the apex body for secondary education in schools has issued directives to all schools following the CBSE curriculum, to install a Math Lab for promoting the subject. Additionally, CBSE has directed that 20% of the marks will be allocated to each student from the Lab Assessments, towards the final marks.

Announcing the new initiative, Mr. L Balasubramanian, President-School Learning Solutions, NIIT said, "NIIT is committed to making education more impactful and interactive, by leveraging IT and ensuring world's best tools and resources are made available to millions of school students. We are pleased to partner with Key Curriculum Press for this breakthrough initiative that aims at making the vital subject of Mathematics simpler, easier and a fun way to learn."

NIIT, which offers computer and computer aided education to 1.5 million students across over 5,000 schools will bring its expertise and reach in schools while Key Curriculum Press will offer its globally popular proprietary software "The Geometer's Sketchpad" as part of the active tool in "Math Lab", through this joint initiative. The partnership aims at offering this revolutionary learning solution for the subject of Mathematics, to students in India.

NIIT's "Math Lab" will offer Multiple Teaching and Learning Aids comprising of Technology Applications, Videos, Manipulatives, Measuring Instruments, Tables and Charts, to schools. Based on the three pillars of 'Imagination, Investigation and Interaction', NIIT's Math Lab provides an opportunity to students to understand, internalize, discover and verify the basic mathematical and geometrical concepts through concrete objects and situations, thus building interest and confidence in students learning the subject. The laboratory also allows and encourages the students to think, discuss amongst themselves as well as the teacher, and assimilate concepts.

In addition to providing greater scope for individual participation in the process of learning and becoming autonomous learners, the Math Lab also enables the teacher to demonstrate, explain and reinforce abstract mathematical ideas by using concrete objects, models, charts, graphs, pictures, posters, etc.

NIIT through its School Learning Solution division is reaching 1.5 million kids annually in government and private schools, mostly in rural areas, equipping them with crucial IT skills to prepare them for tomorrow's knowledge society. NIIT working actively to make computers an intrinsic part of the lives of children and also those of the socially and economically challenged sections of the society, who may never have had a chance to integrate with the emerging 21st century environment to give a better prospect to their future.