Make Mathematics teaching conceptual - Prof Anku

Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - Professor Sitsofe Anku, a Professor of Mathematics, on Tuesday said the strict reliance on mathematical formulae without their conceptual meaning in teaching is the result of students' lack of appreciation and acceptance of the subject.

"Most of the ways and methods used by teacher's today are wrong because they are applied without letting the students or pupils understand their concepts so they grow up to hate mathematics," he said.

Professor Anku said this at the launching of Mathematics for National Education and Development (MathNED), a Non Governmental Organization that promotes a conceptual understanding of mathematics and their practical application in real life.

Centres to be known as Meagasa Education Centre for Excellence in Mathematics Education (MECEME) where teachers and students would be trained to appreciate and understand the conceptual methods and principles of the subject were also launched.

Professor Anku, who is a Professor of Mathematics at the Ashesi University in Accra, said teaching in this present time has become sophisticated and required that teachers were professionally developed to be able to teach well adding, "teachers should not allow syllabus to confine them to the teaching of the subject".

He said Mathematics has linkages with other subjects that every teacher ought to draw the line when teaching the subject to enable the student to grow to understand the nitty-gritty of the subject.

"The problem is not with the mathematics, but the way we teach it, it's a simple subject but we make it look very difficult and make the children run away from it," he said.