Nigeria seeks pact with Japan on maths, science education

Nigeria has approached the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for support in running the third cycle of the Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) programme for teachers at the pre-service level, the Minister of Education has said.
SMASE is a programme initiated by the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) with the support of JICA to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and science in Nigeria through the training of teachers and use of enhanced techniques and tools.
Addressing the Cycle Two, Fourth Cohort of the SMASE training for teachers drawn from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Imo and Yobe States at the NTI headquarters in Kaduna last Monday, Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) was also considering the proposal for the third cycle for teachers trained in the colleges of education.
Shekarau, who was represented by the SMASE National Coordinator, Mr. Joseph Aguiyi-Ironsi, said planning for the third cycle is in full swing as the national coordinating units have been meeting with the stakeholders to ensure the success of the programme.
“The third cycle of SMASE would introduce the programme to teachers at pre-service education level. NCCE is considering our proposal, while a proposal has been sent to JICA for consideration. Having gone through the primary school with success, the federal government has approved the content for the secondary school phase to be developed.
“The federal Ministry of Education implemented SMASE phase one between 2006 and 2009, while phase two ran between 2010 and February 2014 with JICA support. JICA withdrew its support in February and since then there has been expansions with all 36 states and FCT as pilot states.
“During the second phase only four inset cohorts were run, but since February, NTI has been able to implement three cohorts of cycle two and we are here for the fourth cycle,” the Minister added.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTI, Dr Aminu Ladan Sharehu said NTI has trained 413 teachers on SMASE and conducted seven cohorts of cycle one from all states and the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT) except Lagos State.
“We have trained three cohorts of cycle two this is the fourth cohort. SMASE training is progressing and succeeding and NTI is fully committed to Smase training and improvement of teachers’ education in the country. We have included computer training in SMASE inset training with a computer laboratory while we are on the verge of completing our science laboratory.”