Teacher counsels parents on how to boost students’ performance in maths

Mr. Kolawole Bello, a Mathematics teacher at The Ambassador College, Ota, Ogun State advised parents on how to stem the continuous poor performance of students in Mathematics.

Bello who was speaking at the venue of the on-going Cowbellpedia Mathematics Television Quiz Show in Lagos explained that parents have a role to play in sustaining the interest of their children in the subject. He added that as much as teachers are trying these days to encourage students in Mathematics and in the sciences, the support and encouragement from parents will go a long way to complement the efforts of teachers.

Bello informed that his school identifies students with potential and talent in Mathematics and group them together for further coaching and encouragement. “We form what can be likened to a Mathematics Club and encourage the students to show more interest, regardless of what anybody tells them about Mathematics. It is from this group that we normally pick our representatives for any competition, including Cowbellpedia. This has been working for us,” Bello said.

In addition to the sponsorship of annual Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show, Promasidor Nigeria Limited through its flagship brand has developed a mathematics mobile app to sustain interest in the subject area of Mathematics. The Cowbellpedia app is a multi-level mobile app that allows students to practice Mathematics questions everywhere with a lot of fun. This can be downloaded from Google Play Store on any android devices.

Festus Tettey, Head of Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria Limited explained that the move was part of measures to stimulate greater interest by students in Mathematics, which is regarded as the bedrock of science and technology.

The Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN) has also identified Mathematics phobia as a major drawback for the interest of students in the subject. It specifically expressed concern over the continual poor performance of candidates in Mathematics Senior Secondary School Examinations.

The association’s position is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 50th Annual Conference in Asaba recently.

The communiqué, signed by the President of the association, Professor Che Agwagah, said that the causes of the poor performance were student-related, teacher-related and government-related.

Bello however, noted that competitions like the on-going Cowbellpedia Television Quiz Show will go a long way to boost the interest of both students and teachers in the subject.

He maintained that nothing can separate his school from this year’s ultimate prize of one million Naira and an all-expense-paid education excursion outside the country.

The airing of the programme continues this weekend on the following networks and times; AIT Network on Saturday, 7. 00p.m; NTA Onitsha, Sunday, 5. 00p.m; STV Jos, Sunday, 5.00 p.m.; NTA Kano, Saturday, 2.00 p.m.; and DSTV Channel 154 on Saturday, 9.00 p.m.

TVC, Lagos, Saturday 8.00p.m and CRBC Calabar, Saturday 7.00p.m have been added to the existing list of TV stations. You can visit www.cowbellpedia.ng for the full airing schedules.

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