By Joseph Erunke
THE Presidency has asked both teachers and parents to redouble their efforts aimed at improving the learning of mathematics sciences in the country.

Mathematics

This  came as it challenged relevant organisations to adequately fund the girl-child education with a view to reducing street hawking among young girls in the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire spoke in Abuja, at the SDGs Mathematics Competition for Junior Girls award ceremony where 13 year old Miss Tochukwu Ndukwe, from Federal Government Girls College, FGGC, Leeja in Nsukka, Enugu State emerged the overall winner of the Nigerian Mathematics Queen Competition for 2018.

Miss Medina from FESTAC College, Lagos emerged first runner-up while Miss Olayiwola Adedagun, from Federal Government Girls’ College,FGGC,Ketu,in Osun State emerged the second runner-up in the competition participated by female students across the country.

Mrs Orelope-Adefulire,who was represented by Dr Ify Nnamchi, insisted that teachers and parents must begin to play greater roles in improving the learning of the mathematics subject.

Speaking also at the occasion,Director of the National Mathematics Centre, Prof. Stephen Onah, while regretting the decline of interest in mathematics among girl child, explained that the competition was intended to address the gap between boys and girls in the learning and teaching of Mathematics in the country.

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He also explained that one of the objectives of the competition was to encourage the learning of Mathematical Sciences among young Nigerian girls.

He said:“The Nigerian Girl Student has been placed in a disadvantaged position especially in the area of education which has relegated her in the general scheme of things.

“Being a victim of discrimination and male chauvinism, the girl-child could hardly compete educationally with her male counterpart.

“This attitude has badly affected the girl child’s education in the area of enrolment in school, performance in class and her quest to progress educationally.

“The girl child’s low interest in Mathematics is a serious concern to NMC and it is on this note that we encourage and boost the interest of the girl-student in Mathematics.”

No fewer than 115 female students of junior secondary school across the country participated in the final stage of the Junior Mathematics Olympiad Competition training, organised by the National Mathematical Centre and sponsored by the SGDs