The Director/Chief Executive, National Mathematical Centre, Prof. Promise Mebine
By Jacinta Nwachukwu
The National Mathematical Centre (NAN) has said that it trained no fewer than 300 teachers in three states on the use of mathematical kits to enhance teaching and learning in schools.
The Director/Chief Executive of the Centre, Prof. Promise Mebine, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja
Mebine listed the states that benefited in the training to include, Bayelsa, Ekiti and Adamawa, adding that 100 teachers each were trained per state.
According to him, mathematics kits are instructional materials that enable students to enjoy the study of mathematics and other science subjects.
“They are hands-on materials and kits that make mathematics and sciences real, concrete, interactive and practical; examples are cylinders, protractors, compass, ludos, etc.
“There are Secondary Mathematics Kits (SMK) and Primary Mathematics Kits (PMK),” he explained.
He added that the centre organised mathematics improvement training of teachers in some selected schools in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Research findings have shown that inadequate qualified mathematics teachers in the education system are partly responsible for the declining standard of graduate training in mathematics in the country.
“To alleviate the problem observed above, the centre embarked on programmes aimed at strengthening teaching and learning of mathematics at all levels of the education system,’’ he said.
Mebine further explained that in order to strengthen the teaching and learning of mathematics across universities, NMC organised capacity building workshops for Nigerian universities lecturers in mathematical sciences.
He said this training was done, most especially, in the endangered areas of mathematics and other areas of competitiveness in mathematical sciences.
On talent hunt, the director said that the ventre has activities of Olympiad Unit in 2023.
He said, after the final round of the competition, three students emerged out of the 60 participants and the successful three represented Nigeria at the PAMO Competition in Kigali, Rwanda – two boys and a girl winning two gold medals.
According to the DG, the centre also embarked on a serious drive to seek strategic partnership and collaborations between NMC and National /International agencies, institutions and industries to promote development in some areas of concern.
Mebine, on behalf of the management and staff members of the centre, congratulated President Bola Tinubu, on his one year in office.
“We congratulate the President on his purposeful leadership and economic grandeur that is gradually repositioning Nigeria as one of the emerging economies in the world.
“Your ambitious infrastructural development plan for Nigeria is a thing of great interest to us also.
“Moreover, we appreciate Mr President for increasing our capital and overhead funding, wages of our workers and six months palliative grants’’.
He said the centre will continue to ensurre that its activities/programmes aligned with the Ministerial Strategic plan, especially the Road Map of the Federal Ministry of Education. (NAN)