Low Quality Teachers Make Mathematics Difficult For Students

A mathematics Professor has criticised the practice that allows students with weaker grades to be offered admission into the various teacher training schools. According to Professor Emmanuel Kwame Essel, Academic Director of the African Institute for Mathematic Sciences (AIMS) Ghana, the low patronage of mathematics by students was as a result of poor methodologies used by low quality teachers who teach the subject. Prof Essel made the observation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of an orientation ceremony organised for fresh students of the AIMS Ghana for the 2015/2016 academic year at Biriwa in the Central Region. The annual ceremony was for the students to familiarise themselves with the mode of academic work, logistics and code of conduct at the Institute while socialising. This year, AIMS Ghana admitted 50 students from 18 African countries of which 18 of them are females. He said most mathematics teachers had failed the subject at West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination and decided to use teaching as the last resort to earn income. He said the teaching profession needs dedication and self-dignity and not monetary gains. Prof Essel who expressed worry about the situation said mathematics is a very important subject which is used to explain physical phenomena to solve human needs and that it should not be treated anyhow. He therefore want students who get good grades in mathematics to be sponsored at the various teacher training Institutions to ensure that quality mathematical teachers are produced to teach and sustain the interest of the subject in the younger generation. The Prof Essel, admonished parents and guardians to put in place the right steps to introduce mathematics to their children at the early stages of their lives. He said mathematics is a subject which could facilitate one's progress in life. He advised students to learn well such that they could use the knowledge acquired to help solve problems in their communities.