African Science Academy builds skills of maths teachers

A masterclass session that aims at building the teaching skills and capacities of teachers of mathematics across the country has been held in Ho in the Volta Region.

It also had participants from the Oti Region.

The event was the third, organised by the African Science Academy (ASA) and sponsored by Tullow oil.

The one-day event brought together more than 70 teachers from senior high schools (SHSs) within the two regions that are currently running the double-track system.

Partner

The event was done in collaboration with NOVAN Education and Training, an educational service provider, headed by Miracule Gavor.

It was also to bridge the ratio of men-to-women mathematics teachers while encouraging female teachers to participate in such programmes.

In her address, the Headmistress of ASA, Ms Efua Adabie, said there was the need to motivate teachers in the field of mathematics to inculcate innovative ways of teaching the subject, which was seen as a difficult one.

She also spoke about the dream that birthed ASA, an all-girls school, and how it has dedicated its mandate to empowering SHS leavers to desire science-related courses, employing the most innovative models in teaching them.

Mindset

“We endeavour at ASA to change the mindset of girls by challenging them to think differently in solving complex things,” she added.

Ms Adabie threw a challenge to the teachers to also incorporate thoughts on gender-based ideas such as equity, equality and social inclusion in their teaching modes.

The Head of Academics at ASA, Levina Ansong Owusu, who is also a teacher of Maths, shared in-depth lessons and strategies for teaching and learning.

Diagnostic

A Lecturer at the Department of Basic Education of the University of Cape Coast, Dr Foster Ntow, took the participants through a diagnostic test that allowed the teachers to experience how it felt to be in the shoes of their students.

Interacting with the participants after the event, they expressed their appreciation for such a programme saying that it had been beneficial.

In attendance was a deaf Mathematicss teacher (with interpreters) from the Tetteh Ocloo School for the Deaf to foster inclusion and diversity.