Encourage students to develop passion for study of maths
The Ghana Mathematics Society (GMS) has launched a programme to encourage students to develop a passion for the study of the subject.
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According to the association, the inability of some teachers to develop themselves and adopt modern methods of teaching the subject was contributing to mass failure of students in the subject, and indicated that students continue to face trauma in the study of mathematics.
Speaking at the launch of the Vedic Maths Ghana programme in Accra on Thursday, the President of the GMS and the Executive Director of Megasa Academy, Professor Sitsofe Anku said there was the need for teachers to take advantage of professional development programmes to improve the teaching and study of the subject.
The programme was on the theme: ‘Building Capacity to revamp mathematics education and confidence’.
The Vedic Maths, which can be applied using both computer-based application and a manual system of calculation, provides a variety of platforms for students, thus, making the learning of mathematics easy.
Prof. Anku indicated that “What authorities need to do is to ask ourselves, to what extent do we value the knowledge of the teacher in the classroom. People must not only be promoted because they have been teaching for two, three or four years in the classroom, they must be made to update their knowledge periodically”.
He also expressed regret at government’s inability to extend support to activities aimed at encouraging the learning of maths among students, particularly in the public sector schools.
He said the GMS had invested in modern technology for the instructions of maths and the society intended to decentralise its outreach programmes to selected district capitals nationwide as part of its 2013 Mathematics Camp for schoolchildren.
The Director in-charge of Pre-tertiary education at the Ministry of Education, Ms Rabiana Azara Amandi, who represented the Minister of Education, lauded the GMS for the initiative.
She indicated that mathematics was a vital subject that students needed to study in order to progress in their academic career, stressing that “In recognition of this, the ministry is in the process of initiating retraining programmes for teachers in line with strategies being adopted to improve upon quality education”.
She assured the GMS that government would consider its proposal on the Vedic programme, taking into consideration the programme’s sustainability and viability, as the programme sought to supplement the current mode of teaching the subject in schools.
Story by Della Russel Ocloo
Writer’s email: [email protected]