Maths and Science Teachers meet in Makeni

A one-week seminar for capacity building for the Sierra Leone Association of Mathematics and Science Teachers SLAMAST is in progress at the Holy Trinity Parish hall along Blama road in Kenema.
The Seminar is funded by (JICA) Japan International Corporation Agency  and is targeting participants from Primary and Secondary schools in Kenema, Kono and Kailahun districts in the eastern region.  Addressing the press at the opening session the president of SLAMAST Moseray Sama Kailondo Banya said this is the first Nation–wide (SMASE) follow-up Seminar in Primary and Junior Secondary Mathematics and Science Education in August/ September 2008 involving two participants each from the 102 Primary and Junior Secondary schools.  Mr. Banya said the objectives of undertaking such an educative programme is to share experiences of the status of Mathematics and Science Education in the various schools, and also to improve on the teaching methodology in Science and Mathematics subject along with the performance of candidates at public examinations. Kailondo Banya further disclosed that the seminar is an in-service training purely for Primary and Junior Secondary School level Mathematics and Science teachers in ASEI (Activity Student, Experiment, and Improvisation) and PDSI (Plan Do See Improve) approach in August/September 2008 in the eastern region. He said that the expectation at the end of the seminar is that the child should adapt and adopt this methodology using the ASEI and DPSI approach in their respective classrooms and also to effect a change in attitude towards Mathematics and Science teaching and learning by teachers, pupils, school heads, ministry of education officials and parents. In his statement the chairman SLAMAST eastern region Septimus Vandi who is also the principal of the Holy Trinity Junior Secondary School disclosed that the project on SLAMAST will commence from January 2010 to April 2012 and can be extended through the first meeting of the beneficiaries adding that an up to date follow up will be made to evaluate the teachers in their respective schools, which according to him will come up in 2009.  Mr. Vandi appealed to school heads to provide the needed training and learning materials for effective learning process in the various schools in the eastern region.