Fed Govt laments maths, science phobia
By Gift Kelechi Abuja
The Federal Government has lamented the level of reluctance among students to studying mathematics and science subjects.
×The government says it has noticed that many young people are less interested in subjects that can produce the necessary manpower that can help the country utilise its abundant resources.Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who made the statement, added that Nigeria’s continuous reliance on other countries for the importation of all things, was no longer acceptable.He added that to remedy the situation, his ministry would provide indigenous science kits to select secondary schools in each state of the federation.Onu spoke at the training of teachers/distribution of indigenous science kits for secondary schools in Abuja on Tuesday.ADVERTISEMENTHe said:”We have noticed in our secondary schools that many students are reluctant to study mathematics and science subjects. This situation is not good for our country. We know that we need many of our young people to be interested in the study of Mathematics and sciences. This has become very important because we need to produce the necessary manpower that can help us to effectively and efficiently utilise the abundant natural resources we have in virtually all parts of the country.“We have for long depended on other countries to meet our needs in many of the equipment, machines, industrial services needed for national development. Nigeria has the human beings, who if properly educated can fully exploit and convert her abundant natural resources into products and services needed both at home, in our schools, hospitals, laboratories, offices and factories.“The continuous reliance on other countries, whereby we import most of the things we need is no longer acceptable. The science kits, that are being distributed, are locally produced by the Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Enugu. The preference for an indigenous science kit is in line with the Presidential Executive Order No. 5.“By using these science kits, the students will explore different branches of science including Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Ecology and Astronomy. Some selected teachers are being trained on the use of these science kits.”
