Expects call for better remuneration for maths teachers in Nigeria

Professors and experts in the field of Mathematics have called for higher incentives and better remuneration for Mathematics teachers in Nigeria in order to encourage increased interest in the subject and pass rate among students.

It was revealed at a one-day international conference organized in honour of a renowned professor of Mathematics, Timothy Opoola, of the University of Ilorin, by his mentees on the theme, Advances and Frontiers in complex analysis, that dwindling interest in Mathematics studies is a global phenomenon.

Professor Opoola said that governments and parents have a lot to do to encourage mathematics studies particularly among students in Nigeria adding that a day is set aside in the USA for mathematics.

“Government has to encourage students to do mathematics and science as the two are declining. There’s no way you can do anything meaningful, especially, research, without mathematics.

“If you want to build a nation, you have to build researchers. And researchers must be good in mathematics. The government can do this through scholarship, grants, tuition free activities, opportunities to travel abroad to study mathematics.

“I also want to encourage parents not to see mathematics as something you can teach only in classes. Mathematics is everything and everywhere. There’s measurement in every profession and you have to use mathematics. But I just love teaching students and can also consult for other professionals too”.

Also speaking, one of the honoree’s first doctoral graduate, Professor Olubunmi Fadipe-Joseph of the University of Ilorin, who subscribed to higher enumeration for Mathematics teachers said that school teachers would teach with passion when they are encouraged momentary.

She also encouraged teachers to teach their students based on concept of mathematics for better understanding, saying that mathematics has a unique pattern to achieve interesting and comprehensible teaching and learning.

Also, another mentee, who is the first female Mathematics professor in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Deborah Makinde, said that mathematics is needed in day to day activities and allows for critical thinking.

“We subscribe to higher enumeration for mathematics teachers in order to encourage them. They should be well paid above all others. If the teachers are well paid the students would know they have future in passing maths and taking maths as a profession”, she said.

Earlier, the deputy governor of Kwara state, Mr. Kayode Alabi, called for application of robust method of teaching that will make mathematics teaching and learning easier for improved national development.

The deputy governor who was represented by the state commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Maryam Nanfatima Imam, said simplifying teaching and learning will enhance academic excellence.

He commended the honouree for his great contribution to human capital development adding that the legacy of the honoree will also remain useful and impactful to growth and nation building.