Abia education commissioner calls for a state of emergency in mathematics, sciences

The Abia state commissioner, Professor Ikechi Mgboji for Education has called for state of emergency in the mathematics and science sections of the state educational system.

This call was made by the commissioner due to lack of qualified teachers in the areas of mathematics and sciences and this has compelled the commissioner to plead with the federal and state governments to declare a state of emergency in that sector.

While addressing  newsmen in Umuahia,  Mgboji said that the dearth of mathematics and science teachers in public schools in the country was a matter of serious concern, saying that if nothing was done now thenation’s growth would be stunted.

Mgboji said that the dearth of teachers for mathematics and sciences subjects was partly responsible for the phobia and poor performance of students in mathematics in public examinations across the country.

According to him, “As a teacher and commissioner for education in the state, the government is not satisfied with the performance of students in public examinations especially in mathematics and science relatedsubjects in the state.

Out of all the teachers we have both in public and private schools a sizable number of them teach English language and other subjects but with very few teachers in mathematics, physics and Chemistry which should be a source of worry to all concerned".

The Abia education commissioner said that with the absence of policy in mathematics and science education it is not surprising that most of the universities in Nigeria produce graduates who major in mainly in humanities.

He noted that with the proliferation of universities and tertiary institutions have not helped the situation, as most of them are mainly receiving and giving admission to students outside science courses.

Mgboji however advised governments to roll out incentives that will encourage mathematics and science related students to take up interest in teaching sciences in all the schools across the country.

He disclosed that recently the state government has converted Abayi girls Secondary school in Aba into teachers training institute for retraining of teachers in the state in collaboration with National

Mathematics Center in Abuja.

The Commissioner advocated for a synergy and holistic approach that would bring together the teachers, students and the parents as a panacea to the phobia and poor performance in mathematics by students in the country.