Make maths attractive
Mathematics teachers have been advised to make mathematics attractive and easy for children to understand.
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"Some teachers do not understand Mathematics, which makes the subject more difficult for students” a renowned mathematician, Professor Sitsofe E. Anku has said.
Prof Anku was speaking in an interview with the Junior Graphic during the launch of this year's national Mathematics Boot Camp (MBC) in Accra which would begin on August 26 until September 6.
He said "there is the belief that Mathematics is a very difficult subject as a result, most students do not like the subject at all but this is what we want to overcome, and that is why we are organising this camp.”
The main aim, he said, is to make the subject very attractive and easy for participants to apply the principles they learn when they go back to their respective schools."
He said children could explore some fascinating mathematical possibilities in their environment every day, adding that maths could be found in symmetry in leaves; sizes and kinds of trees on the street; the various shapes and patterns of blooming flowers and added that children would be learning maths and enjoying it too.
“Tailors and caterers apply maths daily in their activities. If a tailor does not apply the correct measurement and cuts a piece of cloth he will sew a sack instead of a dress; likewise the baker who fails to apply the correct ratio of flour to bake a cake, the final product will be ‘atsomo’ (a kind of savory) instead of a lovely cake,” he pointed out.
He added that in Ghana, Mathematics tutors behaved as if they were monsters in the classrooms. “They cane, scold and do all manner of things to students, thereby putting fear in them and increasing their level of confusion.”
Prof Anku, who is also the Executive Director of the Meagasa Academy, disclosed that currently a large number of students usually failed in Mathematics, that was why his academy wanted to whip up interest in the subject and raise the number of passes throughout the country to about 85 per cent.
"Mastering mathematics is important for future opportunities in school and careers as children will need to reach particular levels in their knowledge of maths to study advanced high-school courses and be admitted to university," he added.
More than 1,000 schoolchildren across the country are to benefit from this year's camp which is being organised with support from the Graphic Communications Group Ltd.
Some of the communities in which the camp will be located are North Kaneshie, Mamprobi, Tema and Nungua, all in Accra as well as Tarkwa, Somanya, Tain, Ho, Koforidua, Wa, Tamale and Kumasi in the various regions of the country.
By Hadiza Nuhu-Billa Quansah / Junior Graphic / Ghana