Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Oyo State, Mrs A.B Atere, says “the technology development of a state, indeed the whole nation depends squarely on the availability of scientific knowledge and experiences as well as determines the standard of living of the citizen.”
Mrs Atere spoke at the second edition a one-day capacity-building training organised by the Michome Science Training Project (MSTP) group for selected 100 chemistry teachers in Oyo State’s public and private senior secondary schools, which was held at the Chemistry Department of the University of Ibadan on Thursday last week.
The theme of the training was ‘Capacity Building in science education: Chemistry, Physics and Biology’.
Speaking further, Mrs Atere said the realisation of this fact was what moved the present administration led by Engr. Seyi Makinde to embark on means of improving the quality of teaching and learning of science subjects and Mathematics which are the bedrock of technology and scientific development, hence the reason her ministry is in full support of the project.
She noted that the desire of the government was to provide qualitative science education, stimulate the procurement and distribution of science equipment and materials to public secondary schools in the state.
Atere charged science teachers in attendance and the state’s teachers at the training to desist from using outdated conventional methods, techniques and approaches which they were used to during their training while teaching students, but to rather consider other options in accordance with what is being recommended or prescribed in this present day.
She lauded MSTP group for their efforts in breaking all fears and dangers associated with the teaching and learning of science-related subjects in schools today, just as she charged participants at the workshop to make the best use of the opportunity to learn and also endeavour to share their knowledge with colleagues in their respective schools in the state.
A key member of the group, Professor Nwanzu Amahia of the Statistics Department University of Ibadan in his remarks at the event encouraged school owners to tag along with the training project by allowing the trainees to effectively put to use all that they have learnt at the training and relay their experiences at the training with other teachers of the participating schools, as well as motivating the students.
He said: “A policy is as good as those who will faithfully execute it. When the policy is executed according to the design, the expected result will not come.”
The project manager for MSTP, Mr Michael Olufemi Omole, while speaking on the rationale behind the project said the effort was geared toward transforming science education in Nigeria, saying “it is a capacity building training for core science teachers and the scope will embrace the three science subjects, but we are setting the ball rolling with Chemistry.”
He said: “The overall activities of the project is conducted to ensure total transformation of science education in Nigeria; enhance the capacity of Chemistry teachers in effective teaching of Chemistry in public and private schools, motivate students to learn science and to help them from the realm of mere cramming to understanding and passing science subjects with distinctions in SSCE, UTME and other related examinations.”
Other key members of the MSTP group are; former dean, Faculty of Education, Professor Julius Ademokoya, Faculty of Education, UI; Professor E.A Ariyibi, Faculty of Science, OAU; Professor Olufunmilayo Adekunle, Director, Pre-degree Science, LAUTECH; Dr Gboye Isawumi, College of Health Sciences, LAUTECH among others.
Among the 100 schools selected for the training are Government College, Apata Ibadan, Yejide Girls Grammar School, Molete Ibadan, Loyola College, Ibadan, Living Stone College Ibadan, MAVERICK college, Ibadan just to mention a few.
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MSTP group set to transform science education in Nigeria