ISSUES FACING STUDENTS LEARNING MATHEMATICS

?Mathematics as a subject is an important tool in many disciplines such as sciences, engineering, management, etc. The fundamentals of emerging disciplines such as Software engineering, Data Science, Data Analysis, Artificial intelligence etc., largely rely on understanding core mathematical concepts.

You would have come across bright students who are up and doing with their studies, willing to study courses such as engineering and others but whose attentions are diverted from these courses due to their poor mathematics background. A recent example I witnessed is that of a very bright boy who wishes to study computer science but told me: “Sir, How I wished I had someone like you who could simplify mathematical concepts as you do!” The question is: Is mathematics really difficult? Without a doubt, one of the main issues lies in the methodology of teaching of most teachers and the unavailability of well-simplified texts.

During my early senior secondary school days, I faced many issues, particularly not attending the first term of Senior Secondary School (SSS) 1 because my Lagos State Government Management System (LASGEM) number was sent a day to the first term examination. I struggled to pass throughout my first year in secondary school. The table turned around the long break before SSS 2 when I started learning mathematical concepts independently. While in my mum’s provision store, I could remember I tried deriving concepts such as the solution to quadratic formulae (using completing the square method) and proof of sine and cosine rule offhand using empty cartons. I was keen on the constant practicing of all the problems in study materials I came across. The result of my sacrifices was having a 95A, one of the highest results in my SSS 2 first term examination and B3 in my West African Senior School Certificate Mathematics Examination in 2012.

After my secondary education, I did my IJMB A/levels of which I was of the three students who had a pure distinction in A/level mathematics throughout Nigeria in 2014, the same year I commenced my undergraduate education at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. ?

Due to my past experiences of struggling with mathematics and in contributing my quotas to the development of my country and the world at large, I commenced the writing of a two-volume mathematics textbook titled: “Mathematical Basics: for Pre-degree, IJMB, JUPEB and undergraduates.” The first volume focuses on topics from Algebra, Trigonometry and Complex Numbers while the second volume covers topics from Co-ordinate geometry, Calculus, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics. The books were supervised by Associate Prof. T.G Jaiyeola. My main goal is simple; Simplify mathematics to its lowest form and comprehendible by average and below-average students. The uniqueness of these books lies in the fact that I ask myself for each line I wrote: “Tesleem, is this understandable by a layman?” The writing was so hard at the initial stage because I spent close to two months on some concepts. After all, I believe my explanations are not simplified enough. ?Throughout my undergraduate level, I tutored students in core engineering, sciences, and those who thought they have escaped mathematics, such as pharmacy, nursing science, and biological sciences. With my teaching approach and mentorship, the majority of my students passed with flying colours. My core teaching approach is conducting a test every week and rewarding top students with gifts to encourage them to do better.

During my final year undergraduate in 2018, with the funds received from my Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarship, I launched my first publication (see attached) with the theme “Getting the basics right: The threats lack of fundamental basics poses to the academic pursuits of Nigerian Students” at first bank lecture theatre (FBLT), OAU Ile-Ife on the 8th of December 2018. The lecture was delivered by Prof. M.O Olatinwo. In addition to this, I hosted a mathematics competition for students with the highest grade in their General Mathematics 1 (MTH 101). With contributions from my parents, I rewarded the top three winners with #10,000, #7000 and #5000 respectively. Several authorities wrote recommendations for the first publication (See attached). ?

After several reviews and approvals from Professor Agboola AAA, I am so excited that I have finally completed my two-volume mathematics textbooks with the title: “Mathematical Basics for Secondary School, Post-Secondary, Pre-university and undergraduate students.” The foreword to the first volume was written by my mentor, Associate Prof. Temitope (Gbolahan) Jaiyeola and the foreword to the second volume was written by Emeritus Prof. GOS Ekhaguere (See attached).

Firstly, I am grateful to Almighty Allah for his favours upon me to complete this project. I cannot express enough thanks to my professors: Emeritus Prof. GOS Ekhaguere, Professor Agboola AAA, Associate Prof. Abdulrahman Ndanusa, Associate Prof. Temitope (Gbolahan) Jaiyeola, Dr (Mrs) Taoheedat Alanamu, Dr Isere Abednego, Mr Yussuff Lawal and Alhaji Isiaka Kola Saka for their contributions towards the success of this work. I especially thank my mentors, colleagues and friends: Olasupo Bilawu, Ayoola Oladepo (ACIPM, BSc), Teslim Sulaiman, Olumide Durotuluwa, Mayokun Oke Abiola, Ganiu Durojaye, Abdullahi Hussain Babangida, Sheriff Abimbola AKEEB, Rasheed Ogunbakinde, Gholib Arogundade, Nasrudeen Olajire and Hadijat Akinbola for their support in making this work a reality.

Special thanks to my parents, siblings and wife who supported my dream of going this far. Finally, I appreciate the petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) for making my first publication a reality.

I am so thrilled that my work of over seven years (October 2014 - February 2022) was found worthwhile and I hope that these books would be made readily accessible in various parts of the country one day.

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SIKIRU Tesleem Olajuwon

BSc (OAU), MSc [In-view] (UNILAG)

?[email protected]

+2349033771779