ACE Inaugural Lecture: Don Advocates Interest as major factor in admission to study Mathematics
The Chairman, Committee of Deans and Dean School of Science, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Dr. Folorunsho Balogun has on Thursday 13th July 2017 advocated that tertiary institutions should considered the interest of candidates before admitting them for the study of mathematics.
Dr. Balogun, a Pure and Applied Mathematician made this call while delivering the 4th Inaugural Lecture of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo held at Olusegun Obasanjo on the topic “Mathematics: A dread ‘Enemy’ Yet an Indispensable Friend”.
Dr. Balogun in his recommendations note that to make mathematics more friendly and not feared, it need quality teachers who have developed high interest in the subject.
“For the attainment of the production of efficient and competent mathematics teachers for schools in the country, interest should be the determining factor for admission into the study of the subject. It is those who are interested in this study that could endure its rigour. Only those who chose mathematics as a course of study should be admitted”. he stated.
He explains further that human beings generally takes joy in doing what they have interest in and know how to do. They grudgingly do those they are not knowledgeable but must compulsorily do. Some mathematics teachers compulsorily teach the subject not because they have interest but to retain their job.
In a thirty three - page presentation, Dr. Balogun looked at the topic mathematics and mathematicians, nature of mathematics, History of mathematics and life and works of some famous mathematicians. He also looked at mathematical literacy, problems with mathematics and the hatred for mathematics.
He observed that issue of the hatred for the learning of mathematics as evident in the poor performances of learners in public examinations in mathematics at all educational levels has been a serious concern for all and added that the major bone of contention of the people who have become more and more skeptical about it is that they saw it as a discipline which pursues needless complications and inventing unrealistic problems and prescribing ad-hoc’ problem solving methods.
He said people who hate mathematics are unable to determine its relevance of the subject to some courses of study which has given rise to its opposition in its inclusion of a credit pass in it in Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) requirement for admission into tertiary institution and recommendation as one of the General Services Courses (GSE) in the NCE curriculum.
He, however, opined that many people hated mathematics because they lack courage and endurance for its study.
He traced the reasons for loathing of mathematics to anxiety which has been observed from the elementary to University levels and the factors responsible for these are personality, environmental and intellectual factors.
Dr. Balogun x-rayed crucial role of teacher, learners and the government played in the teaching and learning of mathematics. He identify the activities of teachers, poorly trained teachers, attitude of teachers towards the subject and teaching methods as some of the factors mitigating against effective teaching of mathematics while the learners from the early stages have developed hatred for the subject, the government also share the blame for not providing the enabling environment and tools for teachers and the learners.
While underlining the importance of mathematics to all facet of human life, he concluded that for learners to become mathematically literate, it would require the coordinated effort of researchers and practitioners from a multitude of discipline including mathematics researchers and educators, psychometricians and cognitive psychologists.
He said this group of people would need to identify and develop well-defined metrics to measure progress toward accomplishing this grand challenge and ultimately its achievement.
He recommended that teacher should make use of enhance motivation to arrest and sustain the learner, attention and interest in the learning activities.
He also encourage teacher to use test and grades to arouse interest as well as give social reward to student.
He called for production of quality teachers and emphasis on motivation of the few and competent ones to attract other to mathematics rather than Computer Science, Statistics and Engineering.
The well attended inaugural lecture had in attendance the Deputy Provost of the College, Dr. Samuel Akintunde who represented the College Provost, Professor Olukoya Ogen, the Acting Registrar, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede, the College Bursar Mr. Olaniyi Abdul, the Acting Librarian, Mr. Akinade Awoyemi, all Deans and Directors, family and friends of Dr. Balogun and, community leaders from his home town, Ipesi-Akoko.
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