The Bayelsa Educational Development Fund (EDTF) on Tuesday commenced a four-day training programme to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics.

The training is being organised in collaboration with the Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board (TTRCB) and Australia’s Mathific Pedagogy Academy.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Yenagoa, Mr George Ombe, who represented the Executive Secretary of EDTF, described mathematics as the foundation of science, engineering, medicine, agriculture and technology.

He said the programme was designed to equip 123 teachers drawn from the state’s eight local government areas with innovative teaching strategies using the Mathific digital learning platform.

He said the platform was built on conceptual understanding, critical thinking, personalised learning, meaningful context and learner engagement rather than rote memorisation.

According to him, participants will gain access to more than 2,000 curriculum-aligned learning activities and digital tools for monitoring students’ progress and improving classroom instruction.

He urged the teachers to apply the new knowledge in their classrooms, noting that meaningful change depended on their willingness to embrace innovative teaching methods.

Ombe said the training reflected the Bayelsa Government’s commitment to strengthening human capital development through continuous teacher capacity building.

He explained that the programme followed a similar training recently organised for English Language teachers, assuring participants that EDTF would monitor the impact of the exercise in schools.

Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, urged the teachers to embrace continuous learning to improve the quality of education in the state.

Emelah said mathematics remained one of the most important subjects because it equipped learners with problem-solving skills needed for everyday life and future careers.

He encouraged teachers to make mathematics lessons more engaging and friendly, saying many pupils developed fear of the subject because of poor teaching approaches.

The commissioner urged participants to take advantage of the training to inspire confidence in learners and help them overcome their fear of mathematics.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board, Dr Stella Ugolo, described mathematics as the foundation of innovation and national development.

Ugolo said the world was becoming increasingly digital, stressing that teachers must continually update their knowledge to remain relevant in modern classrooms.

She described the 123 participants as fortunate to be the first beneficiaries of the programme and urged them to maximise the opportunity.

According to her, the new digital teaching approach would replace fear with confidence, making mathematics more attractive and easier for pupils to understand.

She commended the Bayelsa government and EDTF for investing in teacher development, expressing optimism that the training would improve learning outcomes across the state.

Earlier, Mr Ali Munhamin, the representative of Mathific Pedagogy Academy, who is the resource person, said that the capacity building programme aims to equip teachers with game based innovative digital tools to enhance their work.

He explained that the new training methodology will improve learning by making children to learn in a friendly atmosphere.

Also, Dr Alice Atuwo, Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF noted that the teachers will be provided with tablets with the educational applications to assist teachers who are expected to continue the training online for the next one year.

Atuwo assured that the EDTF would continue to follow up the progress of the teachers as well as monitor outcome