Programme - British Council Schools Online

14Prof. Parvin SinclairDirector-National Council of Education,Research and TrainingPresently the Directorof the apex bodyof India for schooleducation, the NationalCouncil of EducationalResearch and Training(NCERT), Prof Sinclairstarted her careeras a researcher inalgebra at the Tata Institute of FundamentalResearch(TIFR), Mumbai. In 1987 she moved tothe apex body for open and distance learning(ODL) in India, the Indira Gandhi NationalOpen University (IGNOU). It was here thatshe developed her abilities to communicatemathematics through different modes and fordifferent levels, ranging from young childrento doctoral fellows. It was also here that shestarted undertaking research in how childrencan learn mathematics, the way teachingin schools needs to change and in variouscurricular issues. For the last two decades Ihave been focusing on these areas, and tryingto make a difference in the field. Part of thiseffort was to re-design the math syllabi inschools so as to make space for practisingconstructivist approaches to learning. Thiswas in tandem with creating a one-of-its-kindIGNOU programme on how to help childrenlearn mathematics, Certificate Programme inTeaching Primary School Mathematics, aimedat primary school teachers and interestedparents, older siblings, etc.Annette Smith,CEO, Association of Science EducationAnnette Smith took up thepost of Chief Executiveat ASE in March 2009.Previously, she served asDirector of Regions withthe British Associationfor the Advancement ofScience with responsibilityfor, amongst other things,the Young People's Programme, NationalScience and Engineering week, the CRESTawards and the regional team. Her firstdegree was in Physics from the Universityof Liverpool and she subsequently gained aPGCE and a Masters in Science Education.Annette has wide experience of the world ofscience education, with teaching experiencein adult and further education as well as insecondary school science. She has been alecturer in primary science education, an LEAlaboratory technician and worked in industryin environmental health physics and safety.Recently, she held the role of President of theEuropean Science Events Association (EUSCEA)and she is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.As the Director, NCERT, she is pursuing severalinitiatives undertaken by the faculty and others,for bringing quality education to the last child.This is a major responsibility as based on ourresearch and experience, they provide feed-into policy making of the country. For instance,the curricula designed and defined here formthe academic underpinning of the laws relatedto school education in India.