Chennai: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday expressed concern that young minds with a natural ability for mathematics were not pursuing the discipline at an advanced level, resulting in a decline in the quality of Maths teachers at the school and college level.

In his inaugural speech at a function marking the 125th birth anniversary of the eminent mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, the prime minister said there was a general perception that pursuit of Maths does not lead to attractive career possibilities.

He declared 2012 as the National Mathematics Year and December 22, the birthday of Ramanujan, as Mathematics Day.

"The mathematical community has the duty to find ways and means to address the shortage of top quality mathematicians in the country. It must reach out to the public, especially in the modern context where mathematics has tremendous influence on every kind of human endeavours," the PM said. IANS