Teachers of mathematics require adequate and effective training to enable them sharpen their students’ learning process and understanding of mathematics teaching and learning process of the subject. But this could only be achieved through a deliberate improvement in teaching and learning process at the secondary school level, with a view to enhancing national development.

Prof. E.A. Ayoola, Dean, Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan, stated this at a workshop for Mathematics Teachers in Oyo State secondary schools. The seminar, of which Ayoola was the chairman, had theme: Improving the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics. On the initiative of the programme, Prof Ayoola said it was one in a series and has been fashioned to meet the needs of teaching and effective development of mathematics in Nigeria.

His words: “We have found out that the teaching and learning process of mathematics, as one of the major courses in secondary schools, has to be effectively improved upon for national development, and has warranted us putting up this programme. We have also discovered that important topics like Coordinate, Matrices and Determinant, Geometry, Differentiation, Integration, in Mathematics that have recently been added to the mathematics curriculum at West African School Certificate/General Certificate in Education (Ordinary Level), and are being addressed by experts. So, we are trying to bring the teachers of mathematics together to be trained and motivated, so as to be exposed to high-level training, with a view to passing mathematics effectively at the secondary school level.”

Prof. S.A. Ilori, who spoke on the relevance of mathematics, described it as overwhelming and universal, adding that it is very useful in the area of designs, innovations, space exploration, modern warfare and all other disciplines, and that every human being needs some measure of math knowledge especially in the area of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. All these come to fore in our daily activities. He said: “Mathematics is the key to modern living and we must welcome the mathematical culture, so that the quality of life and standard of living could be enhanced.”

He therefore urged teachers to sustain the interest of their students by consistently advising them to take seriously the subject, for both individual and national growth.

Prof. G.O.S. Ekhaguere, in his noted that mathematics is not only overwhelmingly relevant but substantially indispensable to our national existence, adding that “the earlier our leaders know that, the better for our country, Nigeria.”

Ekhaguere identified one of the challenges facing mathematics as the inability of students to pass exams due to a poor grasp the subject. This has continued from one generation to the other because of inefficient teaching of the subject. As a result, he charged teachers to pay attention to students’ performances, time spent on difficult topics, student-teacher relations, gender-sensitivity, intellectually weak ones, so that learning and comprehension could be simultaneously established. “If teachers train well, and the students to learn well, we can have a win-win solution.”

The immediate past Dean of the Department, Prof. Olabisi Ugbebor, in her short remark, said that women have contributed immensely and are still making great impact to the progress of mathematics, both locally and internationally.

“Teachers have to be up-and-doing in taking seriously the formal education of the students. This is the background which must be really solid, because many students would not go beyond such level in life,” he said.

Twenty schools from four local government areas in Ibadan were selected by the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (Tescom), to participate in the workshop sponsored under the auspices of General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye Professorial Chair in Mathematics. It was sponsored by the Apapa family of the church and hosted by the Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

Among the participants were Abadina College, U.I., Ibadan; Government College, Apata, Ibadan; Wesley College of Science, Elekuro, Ibadan; Community Grammar School, Ring Road, Ibadan; Queen of Apostles, Oluyoro, Ibadan; Government Secondary School, Orita Aperin, Ibadan and Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke Bola, Ibadan.

•Photo shows, from 2nd left, Representative of the Zonal Inspector of Education, Ibadan City, Mr. Olapade Oladimeji S.; Head, Department of Mathematics, Prof. E.O. Ayoola; Coordinator of the workshop programme, Mrs. Deborah O. Ajayi, and other teacher-participants after the end of the workshop.

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