Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (K. E. E. A) Municipal Education Directorate celebrated 2022 World International Mathematics Day at the forecourt of Municipal Education Office on Monday 14th March.
The theme for this year’s event was “Mathematics Unites”.
The Municipal Director of Education, Madam Cecilia Aboagye in her welcome address highlighted on the need to make mathematics practical and not be taught in abstract in order to help allay the fear of mathematics among students.
Mrs. Martha Owusu Agyemang , the Central Regional Director in her remarks also advised teachers within the Municipality to make use of teaching and learning materials made available to them and cite practical examples in order to create a good picture that mathematics is a lifestyle and not a difficult subject as perceived by students.
In his key note address, Prof. Jophos Anamoah Mensah who was the guest speaker, emphasized that Mathematics “is about learning and understanding the fundamental reality of nature, our economy, space and time, identity and change, causality, necessity, and possibilities.” He said “Understanding mathematics embraces logic and reasoning to resolve complicated and interlocking issues”
Prof. Anamoah Mensah further added that ” the skills mathematics present are crucial to our ways of thinking and problem solving and importantly, critical to our understanding of science and technology, financial literacy, and economic development.”
The students within the Municipality were tasked to select projects on mathematics and defend to prove that indeed “Mathematics Unites” .
Komenda Senior Technical School came out first for the Senior High category whiles Komenda M. A JHS won the Junior High Category. Both winners received awards for themselves and their schools.
Among the dignitaries present were Professor Opoti from University of Education, Winneba, Dr. Richard Moore and Dr. Adom Konadu all from the University of Cape Coast, Mathematics Department, Hon. Solomon Ebo Appiah, the Municipal Chief Executive of K. E. E. A and Madam Grace Essuman , STEM Coordinator, KEEA.
Below is the full of chairperson’s, Dr. Mrs. Agnes Adom- Konadu’s Remarks at the Event.
The Regional Director, (Ghana Education Service)
The Municipal Director of K.E.EA,
The Guest Speaker,
Invited guest,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my great honor and pleasure to join you in this ceremony of the International Day of Mathematics. I am so happy to address young mathematics talents from different parts of the region, as well as a distinguished audience of academic leaders.May
I also welcome you all warmly, wholeheartedly, and congratulate you for getting the time to grace this occasion.
Pi Day which falls on March 14 is already celebrated in many countries because that date is written as 3/14 in some countries and the mathematical constant Pi is approximately 3.14. World Pi day also marks the birthday of the famous physicist Albert Einstein.
The International Day of Mathematics is a relatively new event that was created just a couple of years back.
The proclamation of March 14 as the International Day of Mathematics was adopted in the 205th session of the UNESCO’s Executive Council. The day was then adopted in the 40th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2019.
The International Day of Mathematics is a global event that celebrates mathematics! It aims to:
1. educate people about the essential role of mathematics in science and technology
2. improve quality of life
3. empower women and girls and
contribute to sustainable development.
Each year, the worldwide event focuses on a particular theme. The themes aims to connect mathematics to all sorts of subjects, fields, and ideas to spark creativity and provide focus to the event.
The world celebrated its First International Day of Mathematics on March 14, 2020, with the theme ‘Mathematics is Everywhere.’ The focus was to explore how mathematics is found in science, technology, art, games, and many other activities and subjects.
The theme for the 2021 event was also ‘Mathematics for a Better World’. The idea was similar – it showcased how mathematics is used all around us, but the focus was more on how mathematics improves our lives. From artificial intelligence to designing rockets and satellites, mathematical codes help make those inventions a reality.
The theme for the 2022 International Day of Mathematics is ‘Mathematics Unites’
This theme was proposed by Yuliya Nesterova, a graduate student from the University of Ottawa in Canada. She explains: “Mathematics unites, to signal that it is a common language we all have and a common subject with which to find one another.”
It focuses on the powerful quality mathematics has to unite us; no matter where we are from, the unique language of maths is something we all have in common. Mathematics also plays a big part in other areas that unite us as humans, for example, arts, music, games, and science. That’s why this event offers a fantastic opportunity to show young learners how important (and fun!) mathematics is.
The importance of mathematics is enormous. Although for many, mathematic is all about numbers but for us and others, it is metaphysical. It is about learning and understanding the fundamental reality of nature, our economy, space and time, identity and change, causality, necessity, and possibilities.
Understanding mathematics embraces logic and reasoning to resolve complicated and interlocking issues. The skills mathematics present are crucial to our ways of thinking and problem solving and importantly, critical to our understanding of science and technology, financial literacy, and economic development.
Many people often students say that “they hate mathematics” because they see mathematics as a difficult subject or discipline. This notion is however NOT TRUE. Like law, medicine, and liberal art, mathematics has some inherent principles due to its abstract and cumulative nature. However, it becomes an easy subject if one is able to master these principles.
We can all endeavor to learn the principles of mathematics, at least try to understand basic Arithmetics, algebra, equations, functions, calculus, geometries, etc in order to apply them in our daily lives. As you may all know, mathematics as a science is the foundation of all other science disciplines and the cradle of creation without which many inventions and innovations in the world could not be made possible. The technology like the microphone I am using today and many beautiful things around us are made partially possible by mathematics.
I dare say that not knowing or understanding mathematics at all is as terrible as not knowing how to read. This is because mathematics is central to daily lives and its application is needed everywhere. The trader, cook, farmer, carpenter, mechanic, shopkeeper, doctor, engineer, scientist, musician all use the principles of mathematics such as basic measurements, additions, subtractions, etc to make their daily work possible. Many decisions which we make, in our public and private sectors alike, rely to some extent on the use of mathematics. That is why mathematics continues to be an integral part of our general education, and one of the big four academic disciplines namely science, technology, engineering, and mathematics commonly known as STEM.
This year, we are saying MATHEMATICS UNITS because it is the common language (of science) other than our mother tongue that we share as a people to fight the challenges that face us. The COVID-19 pandemic for instance reminds us of how important it is to work together with common goals. Many scientists all over the world united through science and mathematics to conduct research that led to different vaccines and measures that are being used to combat the COVID-19 virus.
Indeed, the theme for this year’s mathematics day celebration reminds us of what we can achieve together as a people and country from mathematics. The global world is changing highly with technology and innovation in financial services, medicine, ICT, and artificial intelligence and these are areas we cannot be left behind as a country. However, we can only race along with the world if we allow mathematics to unite us in our common pursuit of advancing STEM education from the basic to secondary level of education, dedicating funds for research in applications of mathematics, and training more teachers to teach mathematics. As stakeholders and policymakers, today’s theme presents us the opportunity to unite for broader and more collective discussion on mathematics education, the challenges, and the opportunities thereof for policing.
Let us, as educators all work together to unlock our youngsters’ mathematics potential. Show them, through mathematics, how to think critically and creatively; lead them, using mathematics as a key, into a world of possibilities and opportunities. To the students and anyone who want to pursue mathematics to a higher level, I will say mathematics is like a convertible currency that you can leverage on to transcend into other disciplines and professions like being data scientist, data engineer, software developer, computer scientist, physicist, Actuary, Financial analyst, Architect, etc.
As we commence this ceremony, may I wish you the very best of the celebration. Do not forget to enjoy the rest of the programs. Be pampered by the hospitality of our local helpers who are teachers, counselors, technocrats and student volunteers.
Perhaps more importantly, let us all unite and make friends.
I thank you for your attention and wish you fruitful celebration.
Credit
PR Unit, STEM Unit
KEEA Education Directorate.