Dr Ashraf Iqbal geogebra letter

 Professor Ashraf Iqbal, PhD

A free lance Professor 

Conducting Free workshops on the Use of GeoGebra in the last eight to ten years

[188 Eden Avenue, Lahore], Pakistan

[July 23, 2024]

To:

His Excellency,

The President of Pakistan

[President’s Office Address]

Islamabad, Pakistan

Subject: Introduction of GeoGebra for Enhancing Mathematics Education in Pakistan

Respected Mr. President,

Mathematics has always been the cornerstone of technological advancement, shaping both peacetime innovations and wartime strategies. The Industrial Revolution, which redefined global economies and societies, was driven by mathematical progress. The primitive use of wireless technology by the East India Company enabled them, despite being outnumbered, to suppress the local rebellion in the subcontinent through superior surveillance and communication. Similarly, Israel’s decisive victory in the 1967 war against the combined Arab armies, despite a 10 to 1 disadvantage, was a testament to their advanced mathematical war-gaming and technological prowess, producing world-class mathematicians. The Battle of Midway during World War II turned the tide against Japan due to superior communication and surveillance. Moreover, the Enigma machine and British code-breaking efforts demonstrated the critical role of cryptography, a branch of mathematics, in overcoming the German forces. The development of radar technology further exemplifies the intersection of higher mathematics and technological surveillance.

In stark contrast, the state of mathematics and physics education in Pakistan is alarmingly deficient. The student-teacher ratio in high schools, colleges, and universities exceeds 50,000 to 1. While the quality of instructors is a significant issue, the more pressing concern is the inability of our educational institutions to produce enough qualified instructors to bring the ratio down to even 100 to 1, even if the education budget were to be increased tenfold which is almost an impossibility.

The only promising solution lies in the adoption of GeoGebra, a free international interactive platform that fosters self-learning in mathematics. GeoGebra’s capabilities can bridge the gap created by the current educational shortcomings, providing students with an opportunity to learn mathematics independently of the quality of local instruction. By leveraging this platform, we can address many budgetary constraints, as GeoGebra is in public domain and is available at no cost.

The advantages of visualization and discovery-based learning, which GeoGebra excels in, are immense. These methods not only enhance understanding but also foster a deeper enjoyment of mathematics. Introducing GeoGebra at the high school, college, and university levels can revolutionize our educational landscape. My workshops (conducted for the last eight years) have demonstrated that undergraduate participants equipped with GeoGebra can outperform PhD mathematics graduates from institutions outside North America.

To facilitate the nationwide introduction of GeoGebra, I propose the establishment of a high-level commission chaired by Your Excellency, with myself serving as the secretary as I have more than 10 years experience in teacher training so that they can use GeoGebra as an integral part of class room activity - where teaching and testing is going side by side. This commission should develop a comprehensive plan to integrate GeoGebra into all academic institutions within two years. Swift action on this front will give Pakistan a crucial head start, enabling us to overcome our current deficiencies in mathematics education and thereby secure our technological and economic future.

Your leadership and support in this initiative will be pivotal in transforming our educational system and ensuring that Pakistan remains competitive on the global stage.

I can provide almost free advice and support the training of the trainers using online platforms - thus minimising the total expenditure of adopting GeoGebra as a basic tool in enjoying mathematics at high school/college, and university level

Yours sincerely,

Professor Ashraf Iqbal, PhD

[03008477359]

ai.ashrafiqbal@gmail.com(email address)

calculusgeogebra.com (website address)

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