SUBEB approves new approach to learning Maths
By Dayo Adesulu
LAGOS State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in conjunction with Get Pearson Foundation have initiated a more excellent way for pupils in public schools to learn and understand mathematics without stress through a medium known as Bridge I T.
Under this scheme that will commence next month in public schools, teachers will get digital educational programming videos, pictures, texts and audio files over mobile technology already in use in their community which will empower them to share such materials with students in ways that improve students’ learning.
This was unraveled recently when representatives of thirty-one public schools teachers across Lagos State converged at St. Francis School, Mary Land, Lagos for a-four-day workshop organised by the Lagos State government that officially trained teachers on the importance of the initiative and the use of the information technology device to teach Mathematics.
Mathematics and science subjects
The teachers at the workshop who were filled with joy said: “The era of teaching mathematics and science subjects in an abstract manner that leaves students even more confused, would soon be over in Lagos State as the state Universal Basic Education, in collaboration with Nokia, Pearson Foundation and Bharti Airtel, have come up with an initiative that will train teachers in 31 schools in the state to use mobile technology to deliver rich media content to students in their classrooms.”
Speaking with newsmen, Alliance Programme Coordinator, Pearson Foundation, Mr Erik Gregory, said that the programme will help to take the teaching of mathematics from its former abstract classroom setting to a daily life interactive experience that enhances students participation and learning.
He dismissed the supposition in some quarters that Africans are behind in science and education saying that since Nigeria is ahead of other countries in the use of GSM, deployment of the Pearson Foundation technologies in partnership with Nokia and Airtel, Nigerian teachers and students will not find it difficult. Teachers at the workshop, Gregory noted, will earn Bridge IT educator certification, and ten out of sixty participants will become master Bridge IT educators who will train other teachers in other schools.
Explaining the new scheme, SUBEB, Desk Officer for the programme, Mr Alabi Adaramaja noted that this initiative does not change the normal curriculum and has no cost effect on students as Lagos State government will be fully responsible for cost.
On the whole, sixty-two basic five level teachers, two from each participating school, have been trained to integrate the programme into math lessons and build student-centered learning through collaborative group work.
To Mr Mark Nieker, President, Pearson Foundation, the project, he maintained will enhance students in Nigeria to benefit from the Bridge IT model and extends the Pearson Foundation’s commitment to students’ achievement and teachers’ ability across the globe.
