Adamu Adamu, Nigeria’s Education Minister

An educationist, Mrs Yemi Lemo, on Sunday urged the Lagos State Government to collaborate more with private sector to bridge the gap between the private and public schools.

Lemo, Executive Director, Lead-Forte Gate College, Lekki, Lagos, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Lemo spoke on the sideline of launch of a mathematical aids – Sociable Intellectual Progressive (SIP) Abacus – and Brain Gym Learning Solution in Lagos.

NAN reports that SIP Abacus eases students’ difficulties in learning mathematics.

The Brian Gym Learning Solution also boosts students’ performance.

Lemo said that many private schools had folded due to inability to cope with challenges, especially taxes.

She called on the state government to assist private school owners.

“I urge the state government to come to the aid of private school owners. We are helping to educate children of the state.

“We are helping to build the future for the society. We are helping to provide employment.

“School owners are to be encouraged. Government should look at taxes of private schools and help to tackle some of their challenges.

“It is frustrating when you put all your savings and obtain loans to help to build the society and you don’t get encouragement,” the director said.

According to her, school owners struggle for water, security and other needs.

Lemo also urged the government to properly regulate operations of schools to ensure standards.

She told NAN that the government could give subvention for feeding and transport of private schools students to reduce burden on their parents.

The director added that the government could invest in training and re-training of teachers in private schools to improve teaching and learning.

On SIP Abacus, the director said that poor performance of students in mathematics had negatively affected their careers.

Mr Kelvin Tham, Founder of global SIP, said that many students had difficulty understanding mathematics.

Tham, a former teacher in Malaysia, said that the package was borne of out years of concern and researches into why students dreaded and failed mathematics.

According to him, Abacus is aimed at enhancing mathematics learning.

In his keynote address, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, Director, Centre for Planning Studies, Lagos State University, said that less than 30 per cent of students who sat for mathematics examination passed.

“If we are going to produce next set of rocket scientists, then our children must know mathematics.

“If our nation will be industrialised, then we need to know mathematics,” the professor said.

(NAN)