The 33rd Annual Conference of the Mathematics Association of Ghana has ended in Ho in the Volta Region with a call on government to recognise the Association as a partner in the new education reform. The three-day conference was on the theme: "Fifty years of mathematics education in post independent Ghana – the challenges and the way forward". Speaking on the topic: "Mathematics, application in life sciences and the future", Professor Segary Nokoe, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Development Studies (UDS)asked the Mathematics Association of Ghana to ensure that students are made aware of the importance of abstract thinking. That,he said would lead them to realise mathematics as a vibrant and living discipline ready to engage their minds and careers in a stimulating form. Prof. Nokoe advised the association to ensure lasting solutions to societal problems by helping to solve current problems and thinking ahead of the times for tomorrow’s solutions. He noted that the responsibility for the availability of mathematicians should depend on the association and all tertiary institutions that produce mathematics. He cautioned mathematicians not only to confine themselves for their roles to be recognised as essential to the production of the human resource to move the nation forward. Mr. G.K. Abiw-Abaidoo, national chairman of the Association appealed to the government to recognise the Association as a necessary partner in the new educational reforms, establishment of Mathematics resource centres manned by experienced and innovative teachers, standard set of mathematics textbooks and sponsorship for mathematics workshops. He hinted that textbooks for elective mathematics would soon be produced to help teachers and students. Mr. Frank Segbewu, Managing Director of Sedco Publications tasked the conference to encourage their colleagues in basic schools to participate in such conferences to interact and avail themselves in the use of current teaching and learning materials to make the subject interesting before their pupils enter second cycle institutions. Mrs. Olivia Sosu, Regional Director of Education who chaired the function entreated the association to provide a new way of teaching and learning mathematics towards the success of the new education reforms programme. Source: The Ghanaian Times