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Mathematics teacher in Akwa Ibom proffers unorthodox solution to teaching subject

By Ujunwa Atueyi
22 September 2016   |   2:11 am
To bolster students’ interest in the study of mathematics, a mathematics teacher at Pegasus High School, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Essien Bassey, wants her colleagues ...

mathematics

To bolster students’ interest in the study of mathematics, a mathematics teacher at Pegasus High School, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Essien Bassey, wants her colleagues to “preach the subject like church sermon.”

Bassey who accompanied her student to the venue of the on-going 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Television Quiz Show in Lagos, challenged mathematics teachers to adopt the methodology, which she said has helped a great deal, in the interest of their students.

According to her, mathematics is a subject that requires a lot of emotions on both the teachers and learners, and therefore should be preached like a church sermon.

“I have found out that mathematics, like religion requires a lot of emotions. Since I discovered this, I have changed my strategy and it is working perfectly for me. I now preach mathematics; I don’t teach it. The Bible is full of parables, which Jesus used to illustrate his teachings that appeared difficult to his followers. The parables simplified the stories and consequently connect to the emotions of the listeners. The same I do in my class, and it is working,” she said,

Highlighting the imperativeness of the subject to studying highly professional courses, she maintained that mathematics should be taught with a lot of conviction, to achieve short and long term goals.

“The short term goal is for the students to pick enough interest to pass the subject, while the long term goal, for me is to convert the students to great mathematicians.”

Bassey’s student, Uwakmfon Utuk, and Ademola Fatoke, of Ota Total Academy, have so far qualified for the semi-final in the senior category. The duo overpowered Oluwaseun Emoda of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State; Bukola Abolarin of Landmark University Secondary School, Omu-Aran, Kwara State; Nathaniel Damale of Aleka Academy, Ankpa, Kogi State; and Immaculate Conception Secondary School, Bauchi, Bauchi State.

Utuk and Fatoke expressed their determination to excel in the finals, so as to ultimately efforts to realise their dream of winning the ultimate prize, as well as an all-expense paid educational excursion abroad.

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