By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK An all important three-day mathematics congress for education stakeholders is to be held at Swakopmund in May this year. The congress will be staged by Namsta in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, it was announced in a press release. “The Ministry of Education has welcomed this initiative, which for the first time brings educators of all levels from primary to tertiary education together to share and reflect on best practices, and empowers them to participate in their professional development and growth,” said conference organiser Margret Courtney-Clarke in the statement. It is general knowledge that mathematics remains the one most challenging subject for both teachers and learners to teach and to master. “This congress is seen as intervention to continue capacity building as conducted by the Ministry of Education during the 2005 Science and Technology awareness week and will cover a variety of activities from plenary sessions to hands-on workshops,” she said of the congress format. According to Courtney-Clarke, two South African mathematics experts will form part of the congress facilitating team. “Dr Alwyn Olivier, director of the Mathematics Research Institute of the University of Stellenbosch will present topics around the role of problem solving and the use of technology such as calculators and computers in the mathematics classroom. Professor Mamokgethi Setati from the University of Johannesburg will address the very important issues around language and mathematics,” she said. Aarnout Brombacher, a teacher educator and expert on mathematical literacy, will also share his experiences on new perspectives in mathematics education. The congress, sponsored by RÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¶ssing Uranium, Namdeb, Salt & Chemicals, Anglogold, the Municipality of Swakopmund, the Hansa Hotel and the Pupkewitz Foundation, will be staged at the Namib High School at Swakopmund. Mathematics educators interested in attending the congress can register with Edda Bohn at the Ministry of Education, 061-2933285/6 or 061-2933219.