MATHEMATICS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (MIP)

A programme designed to undertake the Mathematics Improvement Programme, and aimed at the improvement of the teaching and learning of mathematics at all levels of Nigerian education system. It creates a new teaching methodology capable of enhancing secondary school students’ performances in Mathematics in public examinations, organized by examination bodies like JAMB, WAEC, and NECO etc.
Accordingly, the Centre has embarked on organizing training workshops for teachers of mathematics in schools using textbooks and other teaching aids designed by the Centre for demonstration at the workshops.
Some of the topics covered during such workshops include:

1. Model teaching methods and active learning strategies
2. Strategies for teaching of mathematics in secondary schools;
3. Teaching of difficult concepts in measurement, number and numeration, geometry and trigonometry, probability, statistics, etc.;
4. Teaching of mathematics through mathematics games;
5. Setting up of mathematics laboratory in schools; and
6. Use of library and computer in the teaching of mathematics.

The NMC mounts workshops on the effective and efficient ways of teaching and learning of mathematics at school level at least once a year in each of the six geo-political zones. The reports of these workshops have been very encouraging. The Mathematics WASCE result (10% scores) since 1999 have moved progressively from 18% in 1999 to 37% (in 2003).
In Katsina State the results used to be 0.5% in 1998, and 3.40% in 2003. With the assistance of Katsina State Government, the National Mathematical Centre carried out an intervention programme under the rubric name (Mathematics Improvement Project (MIP)) using Seven Secondary Schools in the State for the experiment that lasted for 2-years (2003-2005).
The WASCE Mathematics performance of students in the MIP schools catapulted from 5% in 2003 to over 70% in 2005. With this success story many States (Zamfara, Plateau, Ondo, Ebonyi, Kaduna Bauchi, Yobe, Bayelsa, and Edo States) have already joined or are willing to join the Mathematics Success Train (MIP).