Ministry of Education Director of Standards and Curriculum has challenged Mathematics, Science and Technology teachers in the country to make the three subjects more appealing and enjoyable to their pupils.
Florence Mfula said at the 2010 National Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists ((JETS) fair held at Hillcrest National Technical High School in Livingstone that the trend would assist in eradicating of the myth that the three subjects are difficult and are for the tough tested.
Mrs Mfula said that JETS should design tailor made programmes for the colleges of education for the trainee teachers to be introduced to JETS early on in their training.
She emphasized that Mathematics is important in terms of producing learners with problem solving and analytical skills that ultimately create a productive workforce and thereby contributing to the economic and healthy growth of the Zambian population.
Mr Mfula noted that JETS has a number of challenges, the major ones being publicity and lack of exposure for of prize winning projects.
And at the same function National JETS Coordinator and Dean, school of Engineering at the University of Zambia, Dr. Zebedia Phiri announced the selection of three former grade 12 and JETS participants from Zambia are scheduled to attend the international baccalaureate course early next month.
Dr Phiri said that the selected three are Joseph Zimba (formerly Chamboli High School – Copperbelt Jets region), Jeff Makungu( formerly Samfya high school, luapula JETS region) and Kondwelani Nthaka(formerly hillcrest high school, Southern JETS region).
[ ZANIS ]
Some branches of mathematics shall ever remain annoying. It will take you 3 hours to prove certain theorems. How enjoyable do you want this to be. Just accept that you shall strive in order to succeed. There is no sweet without sweat. It is not like soccer when you score you run away from the go post in celebration, in technical subjects you stick in there.
You are so negative. I did some of the toughest mathematics in NS at UNZA called Numerical Analysis. Given a chance, I would do it again. There is joy in mathematics that only the persistent and exponentially abstract minds can fathom. That is not to say that there is any difference between my brilliant mind and your feable one. Anyway, disposition is not a misconception, you just have no direction so you need protection from math. Maybe until you start rolling with C.O.B
Where is your brilliant mind? In my comment I ment ” Hard workers will stick in there”.
They will drink bitter pills and not enjoyable pills for they should get better.
On “Ministry of Education Director of Standards and Curriculum has challenged Mathematics, Science and Technology teachers in the country to make the three subjects more appealing and enjoyable to their pupils,” I will be my best to make sure pupils and students enjoy my teaching and lecturing Physics.
Be blessed all.
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Matt 6:33
# 1 Mwangala Sianga, I disagree with you maths and science lessons can be made enjoyable especially if the teacher is creative and knowledgeable. At C.B.U I had one Physics Lecturer, Late A.F.Chiwala(M.H.S.R.P) , he made Physics intersting and easy and yet he was teaching complex topics like quantum mechanics! Just as you rightly put it takes time to prove some theories just like it took years for some scientists to formulate their hypothesis and theories and is where the joy comes from. Our generation has been availed with information at the finger tips and all we need to do is appreciate it and apply it. That is why critical analytical work we do is called RESEARCH,i.e searching again from what is there!
Mrs Mfula, what you said is nothing but the whole truth. One way in which the three subjects can be made enjoyable is by integrating ICTs in the teaching and learning of these subjects. Am an advocate of that and currently doing some research in the area.
Hey, what about History and R.E.? Not important to national development?
This reminds me of my former ‘Add-ma’ (Pure Mathematics, as it was known then) teacher, Mr Rajaman (an Indian fella.) The man made Math enjoyable and easy to understand. Those who had the privilege of being taught by this man at Hillcrest Sec. School can attest to this. I learnt some of the key Math concepts that became indispensable to my success in Engineering later on in my academic career.
It is true, math, science, and technology courses can be intimidating. But it can be done if you have dedicated teachers (profs) who understand their calling. Some teachers make a mistake of presenting these subjects like they are giving presentation to fellow scientists at a conference, rather than to students whose interests in these areas may not have firmed yet—-wrong approach!!!
This is very encouraging for the JETS community. I was in JETS all my secondary school won provincial and national totals. Good job to you all kids that side. You have our support.
Karnataka