In order to improve the study of mathematics in the country, the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) says it has concluded plans to train 6,000 mathematics teachers annually.
NMC’s Director-General, Prof. Adewale Solarin,? made the announcement on Saturday at a three-day workshop organised for mathematics teachers by the?centre, in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and?Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) .
According to him, the centre was working out measures to realise?at least 10 percent improvement in mathematics examination every year.
The director-general said the aim of the workshop was to build a solid?foundation in the?nation?s development which, according to him,?begins with mathematics.
Solarin said that 57 mathematics teachers benefited from the workshop, adding, “Mathematics is everything; if you get it right with mathematics, half the problem is solved.”
He advised the beneficiaries?to make good use of the skills acquired?during the workshop to impart?knowledge to the students and thus produce good?results.
“We will visit your various schools after some time to assess your work, which would be judged by the performance of your students,” he said. “If we see that your students are improving, then you will be identified as trainers for our `Train-the-Trainee’ workshop.”
Solarin said that the centre had produced mathematics textbooks for all levels, telling the teachers that once they use them to teach, “students will pass public examinations.”
Also speaking, Enyinnaya Onokala, the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs of?Mobil, said that the company believed in Nigeria and recognised the need to support the government?s transformation effort in education.
Onokala said that the sponsorship of the workshop was a continuation of the company’s?commitment to its social responsibility.
“This workshop underscores the NNPC/MPN joint venture support to improve mathematics and science-based education in Nigeria,” he said.? “It is also our strong belief that the foundation for a strong science-based education should be the teachers.
“If Nigeria must make appreciable impact in today?s world of science and technology, then students must be properly guided to match the challenges of the day. Herein lies the need to prepare the teachers who will in turn impact the students.”
The general manager?expressed hope that the joint venture investment in teachers, through the workshop, would galvanise?science teachers to prepare children for the challenges of the 21st century.
One of the participants in?the workshop, Akinyeye Michael, while thanking?the organisers, said: “My perception of mathematics has totally changed.?The aim of the workshop is to ease?out the phobia for?mathematics through simplified teaching of the subject, using real and common things around us.”
