Unity colleges move to break Mathematics phobia among students

By Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt |   20 May 2021   |   4:05 am  

Mathematics educators in Federal Government Colleges have resolved to break the subject’s phobia among students by creating friendly links to make learners love the subject and assimilate it with ease.

The resolution was reached at a training conference for teachers in South-South and South-East zones organised by Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with Academic Pathfinder (ACAPAT) Solution Limited.

Speaking on the theme: “Breaking Mathematics phobia,” Principal, Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Mrs. Inyang Ukpe, said the training would help teachers and educational administrators learn how to make students overcome negative attitude towards Mathematics.

Ukpe said: “Many students have mixed feelings about Mathematics; they see it as a frustrating subject especially for those who have problems with computation and application. So, concerned teachers and administrators by this training would begin to support students to overcome the fear.”

She expressed hope that the training would have a great impact on students’ performance in Mathematics and results.

“In my school for instance, Mathematics has always brought us down in ranking, so having many teachers participate in this training would greatly impact students and results would be better. We have also put measures in place to aid teaching.”

Facilitator and Academic Director, ACAPAT, Mr. Blessing Idodo, said the conference was to discuss students’ phobia for Mathematics and how to overcome it.

“Over the years, Mathematics has been a serious problem. In the last 10 years, we have been recording failure in the subject. This is what prompted us to organise a training programme for teachers to discuss the root causes, symptoms and ways of overcoming it. It is a campaign for all schools but we are starting with unity schools,” he said.

Mr. Idoho said the only way to overcome Mathematics phobia is through intensive effort by all stakeholders and urged teachers to put lessons learnt from the training programme into practice to help students overcome the challenge.

A maths teacher, Mr. Duru Obioha of Federal Government College, Odi, Bayelsa State, said dispelling students’ fright for the subject is a challenging one.

He said, “Students have the notion that Mathematics is the most difficult subject, so passing it in exams is very difficult. In our own little way, we have been trying to allay their fears, now we are more equipped to drive home the message that Mathematics is not a frightful subject.”

Another teacher, Ubara Oviemokheme, said removing students’ fear is a major challenge but assured that they would work towards achieving the objective of the training.

Also, Head of Mathematics Department, Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, Mr. Cyprian Ekwelike, commended the ministry for the initiative and suggested that it be spread to other schools.

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