Delta State Government has restated its commitment towards the attainment of proficiency in Mathematics and Science Education in the state, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Barr. Chiedu Ebie, has said.

Ebie disclosed, Thursday in Asaba, while declaring open a training programme for strengthening Mathematics and Science Education organized by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja in collaboration with the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and other relevant stakeholders.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Prince Pius Embaye, noted that the importance of Mathematics and Science education in the contemporary society cannot be over-emphasised, adding that it was as a result of this that the state government was building the capacity of teachers in the subject areas.

He observed that there was paradigm shift in science and mathematics education linking them to technological skills and scientific needs to produce citizens that would utilise knowledge creativity in everyday life to solve problems, making decision and improve on the quality of life.

According to him, many developing countries invest in science and technology with the hope of enhancing their economic development and industrial capacity, adding, however, that a lot of them still teach science and mathematics traditionally with emphasis on the learning of facts and principles to ensure that pupils attain good performance in examinations.

“This training programme, therefore, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of teacher educator of African countries by enhancing their skills in promoting active teaching/learning in science and mathematics well anchored on the philosophy of constructivism using the Activity, Student-centred Experiment and Improvisation Plan, Do, See and Improve (ASE-PDSI) approach”, he added.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of SUBEB in the state, Comrade Elijah Ologe, represented by the first member on the Board, Prince Emmanuel had said that the workshop was the project of the Federal Government aimed at promoting effective teaching and learning of science and mathematics.

Ologe pointed out that the key objectives of the training programme were to strengthen participants’ commitment with the federal and states governments towards ensuring educational standard in the area of mathematics and science education in the state and to equip the teacher with good and positive techniques of teaching science and mathematics among others.

In her remarks, the Director, Academic Service, SUBEB, Mrs. Ngozi Oji, enjoined participants the training to take the programme seriously to enable them perform impressively well as SMASE drainers at the local level.

•Photo shows students in classroom