Abuja—Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, National Mathematical Centre, Abuja, Professor Adewale Solarin, weekend, decried shortage of mathematical science teachers at various levels of education in Nigeria.
He stated this at a press briefing in Abuja to announce the international symposium on “Current trends in mathematical science and applications” organised by African Academy of Sciences, AAS, and African Mathematical Union, AMU, holding May 17, 2016 in Abuja.
Solarin said dearth of teachers for mathematics-related subjects was partly responsible for the phobia and poor performance of students in mathematics in public examinations.
He urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on mathematics.
NMC Director General, who is also President, African Academy of Sciences, noted that African mathematical scientists resident in Africa were gradually becoming endangered species because the number of such scientists had been dwindling in quality over the years.
Solarin said: “To compound matters, many African countries, including Nigeria, have witnessed an unprecedented proliferation of universities and other tertiary institutions all over the continent with inadequate matching funds.”
He, however, noted that Africans, including Nigerians, have made tremendous contributions to progress in mathematics.
He said: “We have had Nigerians that are publishing their contributions in the best journals in the world. If their contributions were not up to international standard, they won’t have been accepted for publications in such journals.”
The director general said the symposium would provide cost-effective way of training mathematics teachers in various institutions across the country.
He disclosed that over 100 Nigerians had participated in the pre-symposium school or workshop, where they were trained extensively for two weeks from May 3 to May 16, 2016.
Solarin also revealed that the symposium would have about 20 non-Nigerian experts to share knowledge and experience through interaction with the young mathematical scientists in the country, saying this would further increase interest of many Nigerians in the study of mathematical science.
President of African Mathematical Union, Professor Aderemi Kuku, in his remark, said Africans had made great impact in the field of mathematical science in the world, adding that the symposium would provide opportunity for African mathematicians and scientists to say what they are doing in their countries.
He noted that even though African could boast of well-trained mathematical scientists and about the best education the world could offer in famous universities and institutions abroad, said what was lacking is the critical mass needed to teach in the younger generation in the continent.
Kuku said: “By critical mass, for instance, in New York alone, you can count over 1,000 mathematicians with Ph.Ds who are doing excellent work.”
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