What is wrong with mathematics? Asks Ghana Mathematics Society
The Ghana Mathematics Society (GMS) has planned several activities to engage all stakeholders to initiate a comprehensive solution to the problems students encounter in the study of the subject.
The society believes that firstly, everything we do contains Mathematics.
Secondly, the principles and methods of Mathematics ensure the efficiency of all the things we do. Thirdly, everybody can do Mathematics.
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However, results from Mathematics examinations at all levels of the educational system indicate that many people are failing in the subject.
So what is wrong with Mathematics? Is it the subject itself, the teacher’s content and pedagogical knowledge, the students’ fear of Mathematics, the irrelevance of the curriculum, inappropriate books, unconducive classroom environment, irrelevance of Mathematics, distraction of social media, peer pressure, or what?
National Mathematics Day
As part of efforts to encourage people to celebrate their love for Mathematics on Valentine’s Day, the GMS has since 2007 been celebrating February 14, each year, as the National Mathematics Day. We show love to Mathematics on this day.
This year, in conjunction with the National Association of Mathematics Students (NAMS-Ghana), the society expects students all over the country to engage in quizzes, symposia, clean-ups and sensitisation of the public (and students) to the relevance of Mathematics to real life through some practical activities on the theme: ‘What is wrong with Mathematics?’ We expect this year’s event to be a memorable one.
Training of trainers
In conjunction with the Ministry of Education, a training of trainers’ programme would be organised to redirect the modus operandi of teaching and learning of Mathematics in Ghana to make the experience meaningful and relevant.
Expected to be trained are 50 Mathematics teachers each taken from deprived areas of each of the 10 regions of Ghana and 50 Mathematics teachers recruited from the colleges of education. Subsequently, the training will be spread to the districts and extended to cover all teachers who teach Mathematics at the pre-tertiary level .
National congress
This year’s congress is scheduled to take place from the evening of March 4 to the morning of March 7 at Meagasa Mathematics Academy, Lashibi. Presentations and discussions would be made on several aspects of the theme for the year, from members and invited guests from academia and civil society.
The society has implored the GES and the Ministry of Education to grant permission to Mathematics teachers to attend. The dates have been carefully chosen to minimise absenteeism in classroom teaching of Mathematics. Total cost for participating in the congress is GH¢200 per participant. Advertisements are to be placed in the media and resource persons invited to present papers at the congress.
National Mathematics Camp
This very popular annual camp will have its number of venues increased using some of those teachers trained during the training of trainers programme and the regular members already involved in the organisation of the camps in August 2014.
District assemblies interested can indicate their interest to the Founder and Executive Director of the Meagasa Mathematics Academy, the implementation wing of the Ghana Mathematics Society, through 0288267159 or [email protected].
Reading Project
Experience has shown that neither students nor their Mathematics teachers read their textbooks. A pilot project at Meagasa Mathematics Academy where students were made to read their Mathematics textbooks as story books enhanced the students’ understanding of relevant Mathematics concepts and improved their performance in Mathematics. The GMS plans to pilot this reading project with a few JHS students in selected districts of the country.
There are many things we can do together to make the learning and teaching of Mathematics meaningful and productive. We invite all stakeholders to come on board to support the Ghana Mathematics Society in its efforts to revamp Mathematics education in Ghana.
