The federal government has moved to revitalise science, technology and mathematics education in Nigerian schools with the special pilot project on training and procurement of science micro kits and mathematics.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai disclosed this yesterday at the inauguration of three committees for the FCT.
The committees include FCT Steering, FCT Implementation and Zonal Implementation, all for the success and sustainability of the project in the Territory.
According to the Minister, "as part of the reform programmes of the federal government in 1999, Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo initiated the Special Project on Science Technology and Mathematics Education at primary and secondary school levels of education. Government realised that science technology and mathematics education (STME) hold the key to the nation becoming technologically relevant internationally."
He noted further that it is a known fact that technology is the most effective means of empowering the citizenry to overcome poverty, limit the incidence of social vices due to joblessness thereby promoting the culture of peace, freedom and democracy. These, he said, are the main aspect of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
el Rufai said "the pilot phase of the project includes the supply of science micro kits and mathematics kits to selected 10 primary and 10 secondary schools and training of teachers from these schools in innovative ways of teaching science, technology and mathematics.
The federal government funds this phase of the project."
The FCT and all the states are expected to sustain this special project by buying these kits for all schools in their respective states and the FCT even as the trained teachers are used to train other teachers.
The FCT steering Committee is headed by Mallam el Rufai while the Project Implementation and Zonal Committees are headed by Secretary of Education, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa.
Source: This Day