Why We Act
What's being said about math right now?
Teachers observe that young children in elementary school are full of enthusiasm and enjoy solving many problems. However, this enthusiasm fades in middle and high school.
Many students and families question the necessity of mathematics in the era of AI development.
Experts note that mathematical proficiency has been declining for decades, as evidenced by worsening PISA results in Finland and across Europe.
At the same time, according to experts, mathematics remains highly important, and its role in developing human thinking will only continue to grow.
Let’s start engaging children in mathematics—now is the time!
Finland has highly qualified teachers, the autonomy necessary for both teaching and creativity, an excellent curriculum, and a wealth of quality learning materials. We aim to preserve all these strengths while improving student engagement and introducing new methods of teaching mathematics.
A key characteristic of mathematics is its cumulative structure—progress is difficult if a student fails to grasp previous concepts. Gaps in elementary school undermine future mathematical development. Mastering concepts sequentially leads to deep understanding for all students. Achieving this requires not only personalized support for struggling students but also diverse teaching methods focused on both deep comprehension and student motivation.
However, the methods of teaching mathematics have evolved rather slowly, despite the introduction of more digital tools. In many schools, the system and approach to teaching mathematics have remained unchanged for the past 50 years: textbook, blackboard, repetition, teacher questions, and homework. This approach often fails to spark interest in mathematics and does not help many students grasp the subject.
Incorporating engaging problems, practical storytelling around mathematics, drawing, thinking aloud, collaborative discussions, and group work is still rare.
Let’s engage children in mathematics on a truly broad scale!
Every student can be passionate about and successful in mathematics.
Our vision is that every student can progress harmoniously and engagingly along their own mathematical journey, fully mastering the skills necessary for their personal and professional success.
We take action by organizing inspiring festivals and competitions, developing methods to engage children in mathematics and work effectively with abstract concepts, and conducting innovative lessons in schools and extracurricular programs.
We support teachers in finding inspiration and discovering new approaches to increasing student engagement—so that our children will be equipped to tackle the most complex and exciting challenges of the future.
Math helps us understand and solve difficult problems.
The purpose of school mathematics is not only to provide students with everyday skills but also to teach them how to handle complex problem-solving situations. This includes risk assessment, exploring multiple solutions, collaboration, and perseverance.
Above all, mathematics is about developing thinking skills: logic, structured reasoning, the ability to visualize abstract concepts, and the creation of systems with complex interconnections. In the 21st century, these skills are more essential than ever. Creativity, teamwork, and ultimately, the ability to craft elegant, truly effective solutions to the world’s toughest challenges remain humanity’s priority—even as AI takes on more tasks.
