SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCE EDUCATION
The Mathematical Sciences Education Programme of the Centre commenced on September, 1990 following the resumption of work of the first Coordinator of the Programme. Since that time many activities have been carried our which have to a great extend popularized mathematics teaching and learning in Nigeria. From Decree No 40 of 1988 establishing the Centre, the Central mandate of the mathematical Sciences Education Programme is the improvement of the teaching and learning of the Mathematical Sciences at all levels.
ACTIVITIES
The Mathematical Sciences Education Programme, through workshops and Conferences, has established that the problems of the teaching and learning of the Mathematical Sciences at all the levels of education system emanate from two major sources namely: the teachers and the learners.
From the primary school to university, the quality of the teaching of the mathematical sciences leaves much to be desired. In the schools most of the teachers are not adequate qualified both in terms of the contents and the methodology. On their part most of the students lack interest and motivation.
For the above reasons the Mathematical Science Education Programme has devised strategies for attacking the problems. Some them include:
(a) Incentive Schemes for Pupils, Students, Teachers and Schools - This includes scholarship Awards to Students at Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels of Education. This has helped to motive students in the study of the mathematical sciences, created awareness among students, and boosted their moral and made mathematics popular in schools.
(b) Production of teaching Modules for Primary and Secondary Schools Teachers of mathematics - The teaching modules were designed by the Centre to solve the problems of what to teach and how to teach the mathematical sciences in school. This was out of our realization that most teachers in our school system either do not know what to teach or how to teach or both. The teaching modules are detailed and styled to achieve effective teaching by both trained and untrained teachers in schools. This is one of the materials the center uses to retrain teachers Nation Wide.
(c) Workbooks - The workbooks are developed using the principle of discovery approach to enable students participate in the learning process and discover mathematical formulae and concepts. We have workbooks for primary 1 – 6 and JS I – SS III. The workbooks help students to practice and master skills and concepts in mathematics.
(d) NMC mathematics textbooks - The Centre has produced mathematics textbooks for the primary school pupils and secondary school students. These are simplified textbooks beautifully designed to enable students enjoy the study of mathematics in schools. We now have the textbooks for JS 1-3 and SS1-3.
(e) Mathematical kits - These are models to make mathematics real and practical. They are instructional materials that enable students enjoy the study of mathematics. We have developed mathematical kits for the primary and secondary school levels. The kits are now available for sale to individuals , Schools and States.
(f) Production of Mathematical Games - Mathematical Games have been designed to arouse and sustain the interest of students in Mathematics. Mathematics Games are used to introduce concepts, practice concepts and consolidate concepts. Researches have indicated that mathematical games help to improve the performance of students in mathematics. For now, the Centre has over 90 mathematical games for Primary and Secondary Schools. The Mathematical Games are now being in some schools in Nigeria.
(g) Workshops for retraining of Teachers - The Centre has organized several workshops for the retraining of teachers at all levels. The workshops are aimed at improving the teaching skills and competences of the teachers which would in turn improve the performances of pupils in mathematics in the schools. Some of the Resource Materials developed in the Centre are used for the Workshops.
