The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr . Ogbonnaya Onu , has said plans are underway to ensure that primary schools in the country teach mathematics and science subjects in indigenous languages.

The plan is meant to encourage the application of science and technology in the country , Onu said .
The minister stated this while addressing pupils of Ekulu Primary School in Enugu, the Enugu State capital.

Onu was at the school to present computer sets and other science kits donated by the Ministry of Science and Technology to the school .
Noting that Nigeria’ s future depended on how effectively it applied science and technology , Onu said the country could one day send scientists into space .

The minister said the Federal Government was worried about the low interest in mathematics and the sciences in primary and secondary schools across the country .
The problem can be addressed by “ popularising” the subjects , he said .

Onu stated , “The Ministry of Science and Technology is worried over the low interest in mathematics and the science subjects , so, we are working on plans to teach mathematics and sciences in indigenous languages in primary schools.

“ These pupils grow up with their indigenous languages at home before they start going to school , where they are now taught in foreign languages. So , we have observed that there is a challenge to understand the foreign languages first before they could even start understanding what they are being taught.
“ We believe that this plan will help our students to understand mathematics and the science subjects , and also promote the application of science and technology for national development . ”
He added that some countries that were making advancement in science and technology , such as India, adopted a similar strategy by teaching mathematics and the science subjects in indigenous languages at the primary school level .
The minister, however, said there was a need to first develop the vocabulary of the indigenous languages before they could be used to teach the subjects effectively.

He said the Ministry of Science and Technology would collaborate with the Ministry of Education to develop the capacity of the local languages to serve as effective tools for teaching mathematics and science subjects.

He believed that Nigeria would remain an import- dependent nation if the citizens did not embrace science and technology .

He linked the socio-economic challenges in the country to inadequate application of science and technology .

The minister stated, “ No nation can become great without science and technology . If Nigeria is to be great, then , Nigerians must embrace science and technology .

“ You can’ t produce anything without science and technology. We are exporting our jobs by importing everything we need , and that is why our graduates are no longer able to get jobs after their studies.

“ For us to build the country of our dreams , for us to make Nigeria a truly great nation , a nation that is able to feed and house its citizens, a nation with a stable currency , we must embrace science and technology .

“ It is my duty as the minister of science and technology to make Nigerians to understand this.”

http://punchng.com/schools-teach-maths-science-indigenous-languages-onu/

Na prayer; I'll say Amen!
Buh e go sweet sha; how you wan Sabi teach students polynomials, calculus for Yoruba Abegi Mr minister, Nigeria is already in a state on confusion better make yoh leave am like that #ImO

Hmmm,

Doesn't seem bad tho,
In most if not all Asian countries, they don't teach in English, and they are considered very smart. Even in some parts of Europe,

Pretty sure, when Pythagoras and co. were gisting maths, it wasn't in English , or daVinci, volta, Archimedes and co.

But English important shaaa, universal language, let no1 deceive ya.

PS: learning a foreign lingua good too o, all na determination shaa

Why ??

Madness everywhere!

English language is reason why we are still underdeveloped ....great nations of the world still uphold their language eg japan china Germany France

When you are taught something in your local dialect, you tend to understand better and learn faster. Nice one

People with bereft of ideas on how to rejuvenate the education sector of the country.

Good initiative.

How many children can speak the indigenous languages very well?

Some kids are yet to learn and understand their own native dialect not to talk of teaching them in their indigenous languages. The maths they teach in English that we all understand is still difficult to understand no to talk about your native dialect. I beg this people should look for something else to do jare.

So many students have hatred for Maths and science related courses becos teachers teaching maths and other science subjects are so mean and old. Majority of them put all their family pressure on the students and sabi kil joy in fact, many of them dnt even knw wat they are teaching; "copy paste "is all wat they care about . Remeneber ma maths teacher then "papa" anytime he teaches, 99% of us are just busy sleeping and snoring becos he is just too dull

good

It's unfortunate that we are now about to recognize the rejected stone as pillar for this contraption.

Kingsley1000:
English language is reason why we are still underdeveloped ....great nations of the world still uphold their language eg japan china Germany France

u don't know what u are saying cos the greatest nation on earth United states is using a british language

This is a failed attempt. Most science and mathematical words are not in our local language.

This wont solve the problem good teachers are always the key

Doesn't make sense, we have over 250 languages in this nation and English is a unifying factor.

Will you now be teaching Maths in Yoruba when a quarter of the class are Edo or Idoma?

Chai! APC are just super clueless.Creating chaos/confusion all the way with catastrophic policy somersults.

BizBayo:
When you are taught something in your local dialect, you tend to understand better and learn faster. Nice one

That's if you're fluent in ur local language.
Language is not the problem, but good teachers, relevant equipment and support

Bad idea
How do you want to explain Organic Chemistry ,in Yoruba?,
How do you want to explain Calculus
The countries that teach in their mother tongue started from inception
The only thing that would be easy to explain is Reproduction hehehehehe
God Bless Nigeria

Take style peep at my signature jare

Too late,if i learn something in ibibio only without doing so in english how do i export my 'technology',better to learn in english it is more widely accepted.Language is about communication

well....lets see how it goes....

timota:
u don't know what u are saying cos the greatest nation on earth United states is using a british language

spot On

You keep talking and start implementing pls.. .....



Time is no longer on your side.. ..

While in school, the day I got to know the denotative meaning of 'perimeter' that was the day I stopped cramming formulas for perimeters of different shapes...I began to solve most difficult mathematical problems involving 'perimeters' with relative ease.....In essence, teaching sciences in indigenous languages will help a great deal...