A seven-day camp aimed at identifying students in government and aided schools who have an aptitude for mathematics and training them got under way at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Valiamala, here on Friday.

Organised by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), the Nurturing Mathematical Talents in Schools (NuMaTS) camp was inaugurated by Dipankar Banerjee, Vice- Chancellor, IIST. As many as 235 students are taking part in the camp at IIST.

NuMaTS aims at transforming children who have an interest in mathematics into talents. Select students in class VI are provided support in Mathematics till class X. Special holiday camps will also be held for them in State and national-level mathematics institutions for these students.

SCERT director Jayaprakash R.K. presided over the inaugural. IIST Pro Vice-Chancellor Kuruvilla Joseph; Mathematics department head T.G. Deepak; Deans K.S.S. Moosath and Anandamayee Tej; University of Kerala retired professor E. Krishnan; and NuMaTS coordinator S. Selvamari spoke.