MATHO-PHOBIA: CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS.


OVERCOMING THE MATHEMATICS PHOBIA
(MATHO-PHOBIA)

Over the years, students of each generation,have come to agree that they have one problem in common - Mathematics. In every 1000 students in Nigeria, at least about 500 of them have always considered mathematics a problem; but of a truth, mathematics is as easy as any subject you can think of.
We here at kulture360 have braved up the task of wiping out this trend doing what we know best i.e writing and bringing it to your awareness. Of course the pen is mightier than the sword. We have made our researches in some Nigerian secondary schools and have discovered that of all the subjects students learn,mathematics has always been dreaded. For this i have come up with my own word to describe the fear for mathematics i.e MATHO-PHOBIA. A condition in which the sight of figures and the sound of the word ma-the-ma-tics causes a student's heart to skip. This condition clouds their mind and prevents them from thinking straight or tackling mathematics problems.


CAUSES OF MATHO-PHOBIA
The fear for mathematics (matho-phobia) also arise owing to the following factors;
1.A student's state of mind- If a student believes that maths is hard,he will be unable to tackle it because that has automatically become his state of mind and he will be unable to brave the task of solving mathematics in that state of mind.

2.Lack of interest in the subject: In our generation, many students have become uninterested in the study of mathematics. Others see mathematics as a waste of time and energy not knowing that mathemfits virtually into evlife.When a student hates a subject or lacks interest in it, he finds it difficult to understand notwithstanding how much anyone tries. To see how maths fits into our everyday life, look out for our next post. i.e ( Mathematics in every day life)

3.Hate for the subject teacher: When a student does not like his/her mathematics teacher, he/she as well ends up hating mathematics.
This issue of hate for the subject teacher is one of the major causes of matho-phobia and arises as a result of the following;
1.Wrong approach to teaching the subject: There is much that approach has to do with the subject being taught. How you enter the class,your mode,your behavior as the minute goes by,your entry set,your first sentence,your tonehas a lot of effects on the students. It can either get them listening or distracted.

2.Lack of adequate knowledge on the subject: A wise man once said " You cannot give what you don't have" i.e if you don't have maths, you can't teach mathematics. The subject mathematics requires a lot on the part of the teacher, to impart the students and it is only possible if the teacher is fully loaded with the tits-and-bits of mathematics otherwise it's not possible.

3.Inability to improvise: When I say improvise, I mean "making do with what you have". Most mathematics teachers are unable to look within their environments and make do with what they have which will enable the students to understand the subject better other than standing and delivering theories with no practical evidence because mathematics is better understood by doing not just by hearing.
The parents however are not left out in the cause of matho-phobia as they contribute their own quota in the following ways;
1.Discouraging the children: Most parents make statements like "don't worry my son,I didn't do wellin maths during my time so it is affecting you now" others say "My grandfather never knew mathematics, I never knew mathematics so you cannot know maths.It runs in our blood." Other parents see it as a torture to their children's brain and as such do not advise their children to tackle maths.All these create a picture in the child's mind, a picture of "since my parents could not do it,who am I to do it?"

2.Laissez-faire attitude of parents: The lack of interest in the academic development of our Children is a major cause of matho-phobia. Some parents do not care about their children's performance in maths tests, assignments, projects and even examinations. This in no way helps the child to overcome matho-phobia.

So what can be done to alleviate this fear of maths i.e matho-phobia, find out in our next episode..............

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