Ondo, Nigeria – October 25, 2024: The Federal Government, through the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), has initiated steps towards teaching mathematics in Yoruba, as part of a strategy to enhance early-grade education.
In a statement by Bodunde Tenabe, NIEPA’s Media Officer, the institute hosted a groundbreaking 2-day training program focused on teaching mathematics using the Yoruba indigenous language. This workshop aimed to integrate cultural relevance into math education and was led by renowned experts, including Dr. Kehinde Adenegan, Dr. Sulaymon Mohammad Raji, Dr. Tolu Omiyale, and Folajogun Akinkuowo. The experts provided in-depth discussions on translating the primary 1-6 mathematics curriculum into Yoruba.
The Acting Director General of NIEPA, Dr. David Shofoyeke, emphasized the significance of the training, noting that it was conducted in partnership with the Yoruba Mathematics Class on YouTube. He highlighted that early-grade reading and mathematics programs have already been established in northern Nigeria using Hausa, and the same should now be embraced in the southwest using Yoruba.
The training sessions covered a range of topics, including lesson planning in Yoruba for early-grade mathematics, the role of indigenous languages in education, and the importance of using familiar language to improve student understanding. Dr. Kehinde Adenegan also introduced the concept of mathematics drama as an innovative teaching tool.
“The use of indigenous resources, especially language, is crucial for making classroom instruction more effective,” Adenegan noted during his presentation.
The workshop’s objectives include promoting cultural sensitivity in math education, enhancing students’ understanding of mathematical concepts through cultural context, and empowering educators to create more inclusive learning environments.
NIEPA believes this initiative will pave the way for a revolutionary shift in Nigeria’s education sector by integrating indigenous language into the teaching of core subjects like mathematics.