A University of Uyo (UNIUYO) lecturer, Prof Amos Awodeyi, has lamented the dearth of mathematics teachers across the primary, secondary, and tertiary education in Akwa Ibom State.
He warned that if urgent steps were not taken to address the situation, the school system would be unable to produce future Mathematics professionals to fill the gap.
The professor of Mathematics Education gave the warning during his overview of the subject while presenting the 101st edition of the inaugural lecture of the institution.
In the lecture titled “The Art of Mathematics Education, Development, Research and Teaching; My Journey So Far,” Awodeyi took the conferees, including students, teachers, and principal officers of the school, on an exploration drive into the world of Mathematics and charged the students to develop more than a passing commitment to learning the subject.
He noted that in Akwa Ibom State, professional teachers are depleting due to a lack of frequent engagements in academic training, workshops, seminars, and other scholarships, and he tasked the state government with funding such programmes to engender interest in the subject.
He said, “In our immediate environment, which is Akwa Ibom State, in-service training and workshops should be held to help practising teachers prepare classroom documents.
“Our teachers are yet to get it right, which impedes the progress of successful mathematics teaching and learning in the state. Workshops are recommended for practicing teachers on Pedagogy of Mathematics.
“Science Education Department and the Institute of Education should be constituted by the State government, for mounting special training for young indigenes of the State for the BSc (Ed) Mathematics programmes for producing at least 30 student teachers annually and for three consecutive years. This will begin to address the dearth of competent teachers in our schools in Akwa Ibom State.
“Each secondary school in the state requires at least one adequately equipped mathematics laboratory. This has become necessary to enable students to do mathematics in a way that will provide hands-on experiences to clarify basic mathematics concepts.
“The method will also make clear the abstract concept, simplify difficult topics and use the time, space and resources to develop the right attitude towards Mathematics learning.”
The vice chancellor (VC), Prof Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, who presided over the lecture, applauded Awodeyi’s scholarly ingenuity in Mathematics, maintaining that he has paid his due, which is required of every professor, and inducted him into the hall of fame of inaugural lecturers of the institution.
