Don seeks better teaching methodology in varsities

A professor of Mathematics at the Obafemi AwolowoUniversity, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Samuel Okoya, has hinged the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030 in Nigeria on the effective passage of knowledge and its correct application.

Okoya said this while presenting a paper titled, ‘Implications of Helping Students Understand Lectures in Advanced Mathematical Physics,’ at the 30th Annual Colloquium and Congress of the Nigeria Association of Mathematical Physics, held at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.

Okoya, who is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nigerian Mathematics Society, described the impartation of knowledge as an essential act of service to the nation.

“As a child in elementary school, you recite the multiplication table and it sticks in the memory with the force of a magnet. We can reliably turn to this, many years later in times of questions/tests in multiplication. We simply recall the multiplication table from our subconscious without hesitation and follow up with other mathematical signs of addition, division, square, and square root.

“This re-establishes the old age truth that  ‘practice makes perfection and perfection involves the investment of time.’ But this preferred attitude to studying mathematics is being threatened in today’s world filled with television, social media, and the likes,” Okoya said.

He stressed the need for improved teaching strategies among university and college teachers, and more attention to students learning processes, to ensure the effective impartation of knowledge.

“Teachers/lecturers, as well as students have a part to play to ensure that the rigour of continuous practice is sustained so that students can respond to mathematical physics’ questions with instinct. These are specific and deliberate steps to achieve especially goal 4 of the SDG which is, ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.’”