A Summary: RMTS (Rural Math Talent Search) Examination.

Since 2003 nearly 10 thousand plus students from all 30 districts of Orissa have taken part in these tests. RMTS is not an ordinary test; it seeks to unearth kids with a logical mind, good for Mathematics. Mathematics is the language of science and technology like Oriya or English are the language for history, literature. One has a history and other has a future. For future one needs technology and Mathematics is the language of Technology.
RMTS was born in 2003 with a test and 30 scholarships. All scholarships are awarded for 5 years from class 6 to class 10. Number of scholarships was expanded in 2004 to 100 and in 2005 to 165 scholarships.
The scholarships are equally distributed between the 3 regions of Orissa, namely Western, Southern and Coastal Orissa. Scholarship amount is Rs. 1500 / month.
The upcoming RMTS 2006 will be the 4th RMTS and award 200 scholarships.
In 2005 we reached all 30 districts. 2006 goal is to reach all the 314 blocks of Orissa.
Like Ramanujan who was not at the top of his class, many of RMTS scholars were not in the top of their class. A logical mind gets bored without stimulation, when subject to rote learning. They flourish; once their niche talent has been found and nurtured...
There are nearly 800 thousand students in class VI in Orissa state and we have reached only 5 thousand, in 2005. In 2006 we have reached, 16.5 thousand.
We have realized that we have hit upon a winning formula but our target rural talents are still not within reach.
To help organize centers in all the blocks of Orissa, NRI (rather Non-resident Oriya, NRO) community is being used in innovative ways.
The main RMTS program which both attracts students and makes it a winner are the 6 – 7 day long camps held over 4 years. These camps are financed by the Department of Atomic Energy (DOE), Govt. of India (GOI) and manned by the best mathematicians of Orissa.
NRO community spreads the word, through e-mails and phone calls from far off, so more kids participate in the test. Whether kids have a logical mind we can only be known if only they participate.
Normally these students are not in the top of their class because our present system is geared to rote learning. RMTS gives them not only a chance but takes them to the niche where they perform at the top.