Towards ensuring better performance of public primary school pupils in Mathematics and Science, the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has organised a capacity training programme for 200 teachers of the subjects.
The training, tagged “Strengthening Mathematical Science Education (SMASE), organised by SUBEB in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Teachers Institute (NTI) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was held in Abeokuta with the aim of equipping the teachers with conventional teaching skills as well as update their knowledge in the teaching of these core subjects for improved performance of pupils.
Declaring open the two-week training, Chairman of the board,, Alhaji Olatunde Okewole stated that the initiative is imperative to tackle head on, the poor performance of pupils in Mathematics and Science subjects at internal and external examinations.
Represented by the Permanent Member 1, Chief Wole Adesiji, Okewole noted that the training was geared towards inculcating in the teachers new methods of teaching in basic education, adding that it would not only help to sufficiently arouse the pupils’ interest in Mathematics and Science subjects but also sustain and assist in the formative years and eventually lay a solid foundation for improved performance in higher education.
He noted that the subjects were catalysts to technological advancement in any society and the teachers needed effective paradigm teaching technique to aid the pupil’s cognitive and scientific skills.
Coordinator, SMASE Centre, Kaduna, Hajia Hadiza Garba Mohammed urged participants to employ SMASE technique in imparting knowledge in the pupils, being the most comprehensive of all the methods that had been introduced since 1960.
Welcoming participants, the Director, School Services, Mr. Olusesi Adeboye noted that the objective of the training was to enhance teaching skills of these subjects teachers in order to address the negative perception challenges and poor academic performance of pupils in these subjects.