Ekene Franklin, the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) top scorer has called on the Federal Government to amend the method of teaching mathematics so as to benefit students and make them successful. Franklin said mathematics and science subjects should be taught in local languages which students could easily understand. This, he said would bring out the genius in the learners.
Franklin who scored 347 marks said in an interview with Daily Trust that students should learn mathematics by memorising steps and formula. The inability to learn by heart, he said tended to develop the fear of mathematics.
“Mathematics should be taught informally; we must put aside this formal method of teaching maths to make it appealing to many. In China, they learn maths using their language, and I think that has really helped them. There are a lot of geniuses, but mathematics becomes difficult to learn because of the technicality of the way it is being taught,” he said.
Commenting on his admission complication, Franklin expressed sadness over the age limit policy which denied him admission. He, however, said he would not hesitate to wait till next year when he attained 16 years, the traditional age for admission, to enroll in university.
