Jivana: young maths champ with a vision

Jivana Bisetty's passion for maths is earning her national accolades, despite being visually impaired and competing amongst sighted peers.

In a remarkable testament to resilience and talent, Jivana, a Grade 4 pupil from Crawford International La Lucia, has made history by becoming the first visually impaired learner to be among the top 10 in the junior division of the South African Mathematics Challenge, which took place in Johannesburg.

The 10-year-old was also the top Grade 4 learner in the Beyond Maths Competition last month and placed 8th in KwaZulu-Natal (level 1 category).

Jivana finds maths interesting and says she enjoys solving problems and using different mathematical tools.

She found the South African Maths Challenge more daunting than Beyond Maths.

She said she tries different methods to get the right answer. Among her favourite tools is the Abacus, which she has learned to use through an online program, Abagility.

"Children who are having difficulty with Maths can try mental arithmetic or practise maths every day and have lots of fun while doing maths. I find maths fun and relaxing, especially Abagility.

"I continue to learn by making mistakes. I attempt each question in a very logical manner," she said.

Jivana's favourite subjects at school are maths, music and drama.

"I play the piano and violin and I love music," she said, and relishes her time with her school friends and her younger brother.

Her mum, Dr Mogeshverie Bisetty, said they always knew that she is a bright child.

"We just want her to do what she wants to do without the pressure of knowing you got to do well. It's more about getting experience rather than outperforming. It is a bonus that she has done well. She has a flair for maths. She has self-determination and enthusiasm to try and work through things on her own and has the patience. But in this type of exam it's difficult to know how your child performs because it's a bit of lateral thinking," said Bisetty.

She said they explored different teaching and learning methods that could help Jivana. One such method is Soroban, a Japanese Abacus simulator, which is an online abagility school that teaches the method of using the Abacus.

"She has the abacus online lesson once a week. She does her addition, subtraction, multiplication and division all on the abacus," said Bisetty.

She said Jivana is not treated any differently when competing amongst children who are sighted.

"She does everything as per mainstream schooling. She is allowed extra time, but she doesn't use it."

She said Jivana was able to read and write by the age of three or four.

"She is a very obliging child. Teaching her is not stressful. She is very witty, playful and a unique child in many ways. She has an enquiring mind and asks a lot of questions.

"When people suggested she should attend a special school for the blind, I understood their perspective. But a lot of teachers are not braille literate. When Jivana was little I learnt to read and write braille," said Bisetty.

She said they were rejected by many mainstream schools.

"Teachers are sceptical about taking a child who is visually impaired. Yes they are different, but rather embrace their uniqueness. Don't condemn a child before they even start.

"At school Jivana has a facilitator, a newly qualified teacher, who accompanies her to school. The facilitator writes out what Jivana has written in braille and translates the paper for her. The teacher works in conjunction with the facilitator who then prepares the worksheets or books they are using in braille so that Jivana is able to learn with the rest of the class," she said.

Kirsty Gous, Jivana's class teacher, described her as one who strives for excellence in all her endeavours.

"Jivana displays as being an inquirer and is motivated to always give of her best. She is actively involved in all areas of her schooling life and maintains a deep passion and love for Mathematics.

"Jivana can manipulate numbers confidently and she has a good grasp of the various mathematical concepts taught. She engages thoughtfully during all independent and collaborative inquiry opportunities, sharing her well-rounded knowledge pertinent to a topic of study," said Gous. 

SUNDAY TRIBUNE