27/7/2008 From Daily Newa (by ICHIKAELI MARO in Dodoma (United Republic of Tanzania))
The Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, has urged the youth to develop keen interest in mathematics and science subjects to cope with current and future technological challenges. The premier made the call here over the weekend at a ceremony to award Standard VII pupils in Dodoma Region who excelled in a mathematics contest sponsored by the CRDB Bank.
Mr Pinda said mathematics had a special value in the society and urged parents, guardians, teachers and other stakeholders to encourage children to develop keen love of the subject. Twenty pupils, who included ten girls, were presented the awards at the ceremony held at Jamhuri Stadium, which was attended by members of parliament (MPs), government officials and by hundreds of Dodoma residents. Seven mathematics teachers were also awarded.
The top prize went to Ms Emma Msunza from Mtegeta Primary School in Mpwapwa, who walked home with a certificate, 200,000/- in cash, a bicycle and a PC. The second was another girl – Sharifa Hamisi from Kandambili Primary School who got a certificate, 150,000/- cash, a bicycle and a PC, while the third, Mr Shaibu Saidi Suleiman, was given a certificate, 100,000/- cash, a bicycle and a PC.
Other winners got a certificate and a bicycle each. Their teachers were each given a bicycle. The premier lauded CRDB Bank for sponsoring the competition and urged other financial institutions to emulate it. He advised pupils and students at all levels to do away with the myth that mathematics was a difficult subject. “Mathematics is just any other subject, you must learn and love it,” he added.
Mr Pinda said the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) records show that only 17.4 per cent of 773,120 pupils who sat for Standard VII exams last year passed mathematics. While only 31.2 per cent of those who sat for the National Form IV exams last year passed mathematics. “The records are not encouraging at all,” the premier stressed. CRDB Managing Director Dr Charles Kimei pledged continued support to educational programmes.
1) Why do you think the Prime Minister of Tanzania is encouraging children to develop a keen interest in Math?
I think that the Prime Minister of Tanzania wants to encourage children to develop an interest of Mathematics because if the children started studying and developing a little interest of math some years later they would be able to solve new technological problems and they would be able to face the new mathematical challenges, too.
Probably there are more reasons but I think that the these are important.
Well, I think that the first minister of Tanzania is trying to bring up to date the opinion that some people (it’s not good to do generalizations…) had from mathematics in this last generations.
I think that he has approached his effort to the children because when they start learning they haven’t got any prejudices about subjects. If he attains that young people accepts math, this new generations (when they become adults) won’t do bad comments about this subject.
I think that this man wants a society of equality, without differences or discrimination between the people that studies math and (for example) the shoemakers. Both studies have to be respected.
So, his strategy could be reflected on a dialogue like this one:
(We suppose that there are three boys together)
Boy 1: – Maths is so boring! I hate them.
Boy 2: – Yes, I have to do two problems that I don’t understand for tomorrow.
Boy 3: – You are kidding! Look, I went to a math competition last Sunday and I won a bike!
Boy 1: – That’s cool! Let’s show a little bit of interest all together and win another bike!
Anyway, I think that this could be a very interested love to mathematics. But we suppose that, with the time, this would change and every school subject would have the same number of students that like them.
Well I think that the answer it’s always the same: Because the childre need more encouragement and for this subject so difficult because the children of today is the children of tomorrow and we need ti learn mathematics it’s necessary.
I think that this man had a good idea rewarding children but In my opinion this things has to be inside from him self (the children) because if you don’t like you have to do it and if you like it and you have to do it is better bu t if not don’t worry but is obligatory so do it.
The thing is that like it or not you have to do it and that’s all.
I think he is seeing that the school rythm related to math is not really good. Math is more hated than language (I’ve always wondered why) and the Minister wanted children to not fail this subject, and to cheer up them. I always say math is important to daily life, so we must know about it. Students must also make an effort, but not give up early.
I think the Minister only wants the best for his children. It’s a good idea trying to improve pupils’ keen on learning math, maybe making it more dinamic. Maybe the point is that he wants students to like it. The greater quantity of students liking math, the less dificulties they will have