FG, Japan to train 70,000 Nigerian teachers in Maths, science

ABUJA — The Federal Government has partnered  its Japanese counterpart to train 70,000 primary school teachers in mathematics and science subjects in not less than 25 states of the federation.

Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, who received a delegation of Japan International Corporation Agency, JICA, said the partnership between the two countries would have 70,000 teachers trained in mathematics and science subjects through Strengthening Mathematics & Science Education, SMASE, programme.

Wike said the government intended to impact the right method of teaching on the teachers in order to enable pupils understand the subjects without difficulty by engendering pupils’ friendly method of teaching from the basics.

The programme, according to him, is designed to ignite pupils’ interest and curiosity in mathematics and science subjects.

“I want to thank the Japanese government for what they have been doing to support the country in various levels of education, particularly the basic and secondary education,” the minister said.

He disclosed that the federal government, through the Ministry of Education, wished that more states would get involved in the Japanese collaboration by increasing the partnership from the present 17 to 25 states.

He said:  “I am aware that 17 states have join the program but 17 states are not enough. That is not even half of the 36 states.

“The ministry will put in more efforts to increase the number of states to at least 25; that will go a long way to impart on the system.”

Speaking earlier, the Japanese delegation, led by Mr Sumi Yoshitaka, said JICA commenced the programme in August last year, adding that it would appreciate a better implementation of the project in the country.

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BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU & FUNMI OLASUPO 

Source: Vanguard