Let's Demystify Maths And Science

Vice President John Mahama

VICE PRESIDENT John Dramani Mahama has again urged Mathematics and Science teachers to adopt innovative ways of teaching the subjects to help erase the perception that Mathematics, in particular, is a difficult subject.

He stressed that by making the teaching of the two subjects fun and enjoyable, more students, particularly women, would venture into those areas.

Mr. Mahama made the appeal when Gladys Allotey, a Mathematics teacher and writer, called on him at the Castle, Osu in Accra, last Monday, to present about 150 copies of her Mathematics books to him.

Mrs. Allotey, who was accompanied by her husband, Samuel Allotey, and children, is said to be the only female Mathematics teacher who has written a comprehensive document on Core and Elective Mathematics in the country and the sub-region.

Her books, which have since been accredited by the accreditation board, are being sought by the Liberian and Sierra Leonean governments.

According to the Vice President, for Ghana to have any meaningful development, there was the need to enhance the teaching of Mathematics and Science to bring out more engineers, scientists, doctors and other science related professions.

In pursuant of that, Mr. Mahama indicated that government initiated the Science and Mathematics Workshop for girls, to make the subjects more appealing to women.

He also indicated that as part of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government manifesto promises, more women who were studying mathematics and science related subjects were offered scholarships and bursaries to encourage them.

The Vice President noted that Mathematics and Science were no longer the preserves of boys, adding that for more women to venture into these areas of study, there ought to be the need to demystify the long-held perception that the two subjects were difficult.

Mr. Mahama commended the woman for blazing the trail and called on other Mathematics and Science teachers to be inspired by what Mrs. Allotey had accomplished.

He assured her of government's commitment to support her in her endeavour, especially getting the Ministry of Education to give her the needed support.

On her part, Mrs. Allotey expressed some difficulties she was going through as a result of her inability to supply the books to meet demand.

She said the books were in short supply because she could not raise enough funds from the banks to produce more.

Mrs. Allotey disclosed that through her personal efforts, she had donated over 1200 to some deprived schools, and called for more support to reach out to others.

She disclosed that discussions were on-going between her and the governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone to have the books adopted for schools in the sub-region.

Present at the meeting were Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority leader and Caesar Kale, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister.