By Martin Paul
Abuja
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr.MacJohn Nwaobiala has blamed students’ failure rate in mathematics on teachers.
He said that teachers have impacted the phobia in students and called on them to demystify it to make the subject more appealing, friendly and interesting to students.
Nwaobiala spoke through the director of Planning, Research and Development, Mrs. Elizabeth Omotowa, at the finals of the Annual Mathematics Quiz Competition organised by the ministry for Senior Secondary Students of Federal Government Colleges, held recently in Abuja.
He noted that the knowledge of mathematics enhanced students’ curiosity, imagination, critical thinking and also impacted on their future, saying:“In today’s world that is knowledge based, we are bombarded with data that must be collected, collated and analysed for decision making.
“It then becomes necessary that more students should pursue mathematical and technical occupations and have a strong understanding of mathematics that would open doors to productive future since it is not just a classroom, but a life time skill.”
As relevant as mathematics is, he said, it had always been a nightmare to most students, adding that phobia had reflected in the poor performance of students in internal and external examinations.
To reverse this trend, Nwaobiala said, the Federal Ministry of Education, through its relevant agencies such as the
National Teachers’ Institute, National Commission for Colleges of Education and National Mathematical Centre, had instituted different programmes aimed at improving the teaching and learning of mathematics in schools.
He said the annual mathematics quiz competition was part of efforts of the ministry geared towards re-awakening students’ consciousness and interest in the subject.
Commending the outstanding performance of students in the completion, he urged principals and teachers of the colleges not to rest on their oars in preparing the students for the competition.
“This extra-curricular activity creates an opportunity for students to master mathematical skills”, he said.
The grand finale of the competition, which featured 25 students from 20 Unity Schools across the country, saw Miss FajuyiOlajumoke of Federal Government Girls’ College, Efon-alaaye, Ekiti state, emerging overall winner.
Master Animashaun Jamiu of Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos and Miss Balogun Taiwo of Queens’ College, Yaba, Lagos emerged 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively.
Other participating colleges were FGC, Ikirun, Osun state; FGA, Sulaja; Kings’ College, Lagos; FGC, Warri; FGC, Kaduna; FGGC, Benin; FGGC, Leijia, FGC, Enugu; FSTC, Jalingo; FGC, Keffi, FGC, Nise; FGC, Okposi; FGC, Ganye; FSC, Sokoto and FGGC, Bauchi.
Speaking at the occasion, the acting director, Technology and Science Education Department, Mrs. Tina Eyaru, said that mathematics competition would not only promote and boost the interest of the students in the subject, but would go a long way to build a well-grounded foundation for technological and science development.
She said it will also demystify the phobia that many students have for the subject as well as serve as a source of interaction and relations for both participating students and organisers.