Education

By Ahmad Abdulhadi

Math phobia, as from the name, means fear of mathematics or a mixed feeling of tension and apprehension towards mathematics. When dealing with mathematics, many students feel like they are in the middle of a battle with little or no chance of surviving. Thus, such feeling interferes with the atmosphere of their emotional and intellectual status, hindering them from understanding the concept.

I will begin this article with a true story that happened to me when I was in secondary school. I told myself that mathematics is a gift, but I was left to believe that I lacked that gift. Hence I would not even practice what I was taught in mathematics class, even though I don’t know how to simplify simple fraction addition.

The real journey began when I secured admission to a university to study in the Faculty of Sciences. Among the prerequisite courses I had to take, mathematics was among, and in the university, the fear of carry-over will hunt someone to his sleep. So, naturally, the student will try every possible means to see that he is free from such prison; that was what I did.

When I absolutely realized that I had to pass those elementary mathematics and other elementary courses that require the application of mathematics, like Chemistry and Physics, I decided to face my fears. I firstly installed in my mind that mathematics was no gift. Then, I started practising every topic taught in mathematics class, solving numerous examples, and going to tutorials and group discussions. In less than three months, I realized mathematics was not a gift. All it needs is the morale to learn and the time to practice where you have missed.

After I paid the price of time sacrifice, I began to enjoy mathematics more than any course. Moreover, understanding mathematics helped me significantly pass other elementary courses like Physical Chemistry and Mechanics with A grades, including mathematics which was almost every 100-level student’s headache.

In short, I face my fears, and I surely did see wonders in less than three months, and so does everyone that thinks mathematics is a gift to certain people. If only you can face that fear hidden inside of you and pay the little price you have to pay, I’m more than sure that you, too, will see wonders    

Ahmad Abdulhadi wrote via bnabdulhadee@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Contrary to rumours claiming that the exam had been postponed to a later date, the National Examination Council has declared that the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination would begin on Monday, June 27, 2022, for school-based applicants.

Azeez Sani, the council’s head of information and public relations, revealed this information in a statement to journalists in Minna on Saturday.

Sani urged interested parties to reject rumours that the examination would be delayed.

“State Ministries of Education, Principals, Commandants and all stakeholders are enjoined to disregard any speculation on the alleged postponement of the examination,” Sani said, adding that “the Council has put all necessary measures in place to ensure a seamless conduct of the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Tension rocks the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, allegedly obtained no primary and secondary school certificates. 

However, Tinubu insisted that he had two degrees from two American universities. Yet, he stated that the certificates were stolen by unknown soldiers during the military junta of the 1990s.

The Daily Reality gathered that the information was in an affidavit submitted by Tinubu to the INEC office as part of his eligibility filings for the 2023 presidential elections.

The documents released Friday by the electoral body showed that Tinubu completely left the columns for his primary and secondary schools unmarked.

Additionally, the latest claims by Tinubu in his submission to INEC reportedly contradicted the previous submissions of 1999 and 2003 when contested as a governorship candidate in Lagos state.

It was gathered that Tinubu allegedly claimed in 1999 and 2003 that he attended primary and secondary schools.

He indicated that he attended St. Paul Children’s Home School, Ibadan, between 1958 and 1964 and secondary school at the Government College, Ibadan, between 1965 and 1968.

By Salisu Yusuf

One of the problems encountered in learning English phonetics and phonology by the second language learners in Nigeria is the assumption that the English phonemic orthography is having the same trends as those of our first language. For example, the Hausa letter /c/ as in caca, ciki and abinci is always predictably realised as /c/. It can’t be realised as any other sound in any other environment. In contrast, English letters are unpredictable in their phonetic realisation. For instance, the sound /y/ can be realised in ‘lure’ as in ‘failure’ /’feilja/ or something like /felya/ not /felwa/ as we pronounce. The /y/ can also be realised in /year/, etc. 

 While the phonemic orthographies of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are uni dimensional, that each written symbol or letter has a predictable sound, the English phonemic orthography is complex and unpredictable. For example, the symbol /ch/ can be realised as /sh/ sound in ‘charade’ /ʃəˈrɑːd/ or /sharad/, the /teous/ in ‘righteous’ /’raetʃas/ or something like /raicas/ not the /raitiyos/ we say.

 What I am trying to say, is that the English spelling of words can’t be a reliable guide to pronunciation. For example, there are 26 English alphabets and 20 vowels but there are 44 conventional English sounds! Moreover, there are English sounds that aren’t found in African languages. For example, the /ʒ/ sound in ‘division’ or /ə/ in ‘police,’ etc.

 Some English letters are not pronounced at all in their phonetic realisation. For example, the /t/ in ‘ ballet’ /’baelei/ or /balei/, the /au/ in ‘restaurant’ /’resrɒnt/ or /restront/ not /restaurant/ as we say, the /w/ in ‘sword’ is deleted /sod/, the /b/ in ‘plumber’ /ˈplʌmə/ or /plama/, the /t/ is deleted in pronouncing ‘sachet’ /ˈsaʃeɪ/ or /sashe/ not /sacet/, the /o/ in ‘leopard’ /ˈlepəd/ /lepad/is silent, the /b/ in bomb /bom/ is also silent, so is /s/ in ‘debris’ /’debri:/ or /debrii/, etc.

Some letters are substituted with other sounds that are different from the actual letters. For example, ‘memoir’ /ˈmemwɑ/ is closer to /memwa/, the ‘chure’ in brochure /ˈbrəʊʃə/ is /sh/ sound pronounce closer to /brausha/, the /toise/ in tortoise /ˈtɔːtəs/is /ta/ sound, pronounce as /totas/ not /totuwas/ as we say. The word ‘poignant’ /ˈpɔɪnjənt/ is pronounce as /poyinyant/, vehicle /vi:ikl/ is more closer to /viyikl/ not /vehikl/ we say. Chasis /ˈʃasi/ is /shasi/ not the /chasis/ we say. 

 Some vowels are changed during phonetic pronunciation differently from the written ones. Example, honey /ˈhʌni/ is /hani/ not /honi/, onion /ˈʌnjən/ or /anyan/ rather than the /oniyon/ we pronounce. Matrix /ˈmeɪtrɪks/ is /meitriks/ , village /’vilidz/ or /vilij/ not /vilej/. Stipend /ˈstaɪpend/, quay is pronounced as /ki/, chaos /ˈkeɪɒs/ or /keyos/, fuel /fjuː(ə)l/ is pronounced as closely as /fyuuwal/, verbatim /vəːˈbeɪtɪm/ or /vabeitim/ not /vaba../ we say. Albeit /ɔːlˈbiːɪt/ is pronounced as /olbiit/, receipt is /’risit/ not /resipt/, and liason /li’eizan/ or /liyezn/.

 We pronounce certain combinations through generalisation of certain features of similar combinations from other environments. For example, the following words are pronounced from similar sounds say in example the word ‘ tuition’. So unlike in ‘ tuition’ almost all those English words with /ui/ combination are pronounced with a long /u:/: juice /dzu:s/ or /juus/, suitable /’su:tabl/, or /suutabl/, suicide /’su:said/ or /suusaid/, suit /su:t/( but ‘ suite’ is /swi:t/ or /swiit/) or /suut/, fruit /fru:t/ is /fruut/, etc.

 In words with similar syllables, a preceding sound is used to randomly pronounce wrongly the immediate syllable. For example, gigantic /dzae’gaentik/ or /jaigantik/ is usually pronounced wrongly as /dzaidzantik/, etc.

These are some of the features that influence Nigerian phonetics. A companionship with an English dictionary, listening to stations like the BBC World Service, etc. can give us some hints on English phonetics and phonology.

Salisu Yusuf wrote from Katsina via salisuyusuf111@gmail.com.

By Kasim Isa Muhammad

Yobe State students across Nigeria were left with questions about the silence of the Yobe state scholarship board and the state government itself. The students filled out all the requirements and paid money to complete the registration. Since then, not even a cough, nobody has heard from the scholarship board. The students gave different excuses for the board until things reached a confusing level.

Meanwhile, the Yobe state government has not yet released any information about the scholarship board. His Excellence, Mai Mala Buni, as executive governor, and be seen as responsible for all matters around the state in Yobe and should have to call upon the board and question them about the approved funds for the scholarship. Still, the views turned out to be different. 

However, the students are in high demand for scholarships to cover some of their academic programs. Even if there is any problem, the board or state ministry of finance should release a statement to convince the students and acknowledge their whereabouts.

The school tuition fees are rapidly increasing because of the current economic impact on Nigeria. Some students look forward to the scholarship as a means to support them in one way or another. Silence is never an answer because the past administration has never failed the students in paying scholarships.

The one thousand-dollar question is: where do the good people of Yobe donate the funds meant for fostering the state’s educational sector in the form of an educational appeal fund?

Therefore, It is a good idea for the government of Yobe State to form a high-powered committee laden with a task to look after the issues pending.

Kasim Isa Muhammad wrote from Potiskum, Yobe state.

By ImamMalik Abdullahi Kaga

Many students across Nigerian schools hate the king of subjects – mathematics. Mathematics is a subject that has application in most things, if not everything, in our life. Yet it is loved by few. Why?

The application of mathematics is there in every aspect of our life. Mathematics is crucial for industries, artisans, doctors, engineers, and many others. Yet, despite the vast and promising applications of the subject in our day-to-day activities, many students find it uninteresting. However, as a 200-level student, it is among the most straightforward and exciting subjects I enjoy. The reasons for the aversion towards mathematics include the teachers’ teaching methodology, students’ attitude towards the subject, poor reading culture, and lure of peer mates.                                                                                                                                                  

Some teachers (trained ones) employed to teach this almighty subject do not teach from the background. On the other hand, some are not trained and qualified to teach the subject. We cannot deny the fact that not all that are practising the noble profession of teaching are teachers. The majority have found themselves in the cause accidentally. This results in their inability to carry out the job correctly. It is becoming rare seeing a well-trained mathematics graduate teaching the students because the untrained ones are displacing them. And this applies not only to mathematics but to other subjects too. It is worrisome to notice that most of our schools produce students with a minimal or poor background in mathematics. The truth is that our schools are invaded by non-professionals parading themselves as teachers.                     

Students’ lack of seriousness and keenness on the subject cannot be over-emphasized. In this world of technology, students face many distractions which cause hindrances to their studies. Students nowadays are addicted to phones. They prefer surfing the internet and social media, playing games, watching the so-called series films, listening to music to devoting time to practising the subject. With this attitude, no student will perform excellently in this subject because mathematics requires constant practice.                                                                        

These days, students are not keen on their studies, so they barely read their books. In the past, students worked hard; some even read harder than their teachers. This helped them understand mathematics and other subjects, and then a holistic knowledge and solid background. Ours is entirely different. We hardly ever find students that have devoted keen interest in reading the subject in the six-year academic program at the secondary level. Still, they expect to score a credit pass in the subject.                                                

In some instances, fellow students discourage others in their crew from being focused on the study of mathematics in our schools. Some of the students in question, either out of sheer laziness or fear, would not devote their time and energy to the subject, which is one of the reasons for the mass failure in the subject in recent times. It is a fact that once a student hates a topic, he will equally hate the teacher, resulting in a large group of students who develop an aversion toward learning the subject. Another disturbing aspect is the influence of peer groups that lure others who might have an interest in this subject to go to games, parties and others. This has ignited lugubrious discouragement to others.                                                                    

Another disturbing aspect is the kind of textbooks used in schools. Unemployed folks searching for jobs plagiarize the works of hardworking researchers and sell them to schools. You will believe me that the books in circulation in various schools are full of silly pictures instead of extensive clarifications about the topics contained.

ImamMalik Abdullahi Kaga wrote from Borno State University via abdullahiimammalik@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has been on strike for four months, will call off the industrial action soon, the Federal Government assures through Minister of Labour Chris Ngige.

Dr Chris Ngige revealed this to reporters after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, met for its weekly meeting on Wednesday.

Ngige claimed that efforts were being made to settle the ongoing conflict, which was primarily brought on by payment platforms.

However, he confirmed that the Federal Government has no plans to set up an alternative funding model for institutions.

Dr Ngige was quoted to have said, “Federal Government was indeed engaging with ASUU, despite notions that it has been snubbing the union.”

The university teachers have been insisting on the use of a payment system called University Transparency and Accountability Solution, which the Federal Government opposes, showing no sign of shifting ground on the use of the initial payment platform it came up with, called Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

By Zakariyya Shu’aib Adam

It was the first Monday of the first semester in 500 level in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto [U.D.U.S]. As usual, all students who successfully passed 400 level were happy because they have now acquired “stay apparatus.” By stay apparatus, I am referring to the mechanism that enables horses to rest for a long time and have a nap while standing. In this context, it means 500 and 600 level students will no longer be withdrawn from the faculty regardless of the number of courses they failed. In other classes, once a student fails seven courses in a session, he will be asked to withdraw to another faculty.

The first lecture we had in 500 level was on Anaesthesiology. We were expecting a familiar lecturer from the Department of Surgery and Radiology when an agile old man dressed in a knee-length kaftan with a lab coat entered the class. He was averagely tall but wasn’t familiar to anyone of us. Morning lectures usually begin at 8:00 am but this old man was in the class before the time. When latecomers came, he allowed them entry to the class but spent some minutes grumbling as usual of an old person. He disallowed us to jot, yet emphasised on listening to what he was saying. We noticed his name on the chest pocket of his lab coat. Wow! He was the famous professor John Bayo Adeyanju, the great veterinary surgeon talked about by our lecturers.

When he was done with the lecture, the Head of Department of Surgery and Radiology, professor A.S Yakubu came to the class and gave us a brief highlight of Adeyanju’s academic life. He told us that Adeyanju was his supervisor at P.G level and that he taught virtually all professors and doctors in the faculty including the highly cerebral professors A.I Daneji, U.M Chafe and L.B Tekdek. He was one of the early graduates of D.V.M from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He acquired his MSc and PhD in the United States and was a fellow, College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria. Adeyanju was one of the founding fathers of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in U.D.U.S. He was one time the Head, Department of Surgery and Radiology and the Director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He was a professor for more than three decades.

He taught in many Veterinary Colleges and Universities in Nigeria. He had practiced surgery in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the United States. He outclassed many professors in both academics and practice. He was arguably the best veterinary surgeon in Nigeria. We were told that whenever he was to perform a surgical procedure, he would not administer any postoperative antibiotic as it is routinely done because he was sure of the sterility of the surgical site and the surgical environment. However, he advised us to give aggressive postoperative antibiotic because in Nigeria, due to the sorry state of our universities and health care systems, it is difficult to evade postsurgical wound infection without antibiotics.

Before his return to U.D.U.S on contract, we heard many tales about him. It was said that he was forcefully retired from the academia by the late Gen. Sani Abatcha as a result of a dissension they had. Although Adeyanju was old (almost 80 years old at the time of his death), he was always punctual to the class. He never missed class. Whenever he noticed that there was no lecturer in the class, he will enter and teach. In his class, every student must dress formally. Lab coats must be fully buttoned and must carry nametags. Clinical students (500 and 600 level) must carry along their thermometers and stethoscopes at all time for emergency purposes.

Professor J.B Adeyanju was a man of wisdom. His method of teaching was unique. He gave little notes and spent much time explaining. He made sure we understand a topic before he moved to another. As an elderly person with an ocean of experience, his teaching hours were full of admonishment. He spoke in parable with an authoritative voice and will often repeat his sentences. That was why many of us memorized most of his favourite quotations. At the beginning, many of us were not at home with the way he did things because we felt that his complaints were much, although it was typical of old people. As time goes on, he became the students’ favourite lecturer.

The great Adeyanju was a conscientious old timer. He always wanted to see things right. One evening after clinical posting, I pulled off my shoes and wore slippers. I equally unbuttoned my lab coat and loosened my necktie. Unfortunately, I met Adeyanju on my way to the hostel. I greeted him but he kept mute as if he did not heard me. When a classmate who was in a formal wears greeted him, he answered, smiled at him and said: “Good boy, you look smart.” A classmate told me that he met Adeyanju with an unbuttoned lab coat. Adeyanju called him and said: “My friend, button up your lab coat. You do not have a broad chest.”

Although Adeyanju may be seen as a strict person, he was equally simple with a good sense of humour. He was used to saying that surgeons speak with their hands. During a surgery practical, he caught a student talking. He came to the student and said: “You talk more than an average woman.” We bursted out laughing. After some time, he came back and saw the student quiet. He sighed and said: “I have sedated him.” He once saw me yawning in the class and thought I was sleeping. He asked me to come out to the stage and spell my name while doing waist twisting. As I began, Adeyanju giggled and the class laughed hysterically.

When we were in Small Animal Clinic, a cat was presented with a complaint of laceration on its right hind limb after it got attacked by hoodlums. I took the history of the case from the client. When Adeyanju came, he summoned us to his office. He asked me to brief him on the history of the case. When I began, I noticed that he was staring at me. I got confused and forgot the correct word to qualify the wound. I said “the hind limb was chopped off by hoodlums”. He furiously shouted at me saying: “Can’t you speek English? Oya! Say it in your native language.”

Adeyanju was a caring teacher. When our teacher M.S Abubakar became professor, he was extremely happy because Abubakar was his former student. He hugged him and asked students to snap them together. He was very close to professors A.S Yakubu and Salisu Buhari. When they completed their fellowship, they were unable to attend the ceremony in Abuja. Adeyanju graced the occasion and brought their certificates to Sokoto. He handed over the certificates to them on a ceremonious day.

Few weeks later, he fell sick and was hospitalised at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital [U.D.U.T.H]. It was said that he drove himself to the hospital. Professor A.S Yakubu took us to the hospital to see how he was doing. We were frightened when we discovered that the agile and energetic old man could not talk but waved his hands. We prayed for his quick recovery and left the hospital pitifully.

Baba Adeyanju (as we fondly call him) passed away in the evening of Thursday 23rd December 2021. His body was laid to rest but the knowledge he imparted will remain with us and shall be passed to the next generation.

Adieu to the best veterinary surgeon in Nigeria.

Zakariyya Shu’aib Adam is a final year veterinary medical student and writes from City Campus, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He can be reached through zakariyyashuaib2020@gmail.com

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from different sources have indicated that negotiations between the federal government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been completed.

Meanwhile, ASUU awaits reports from the federal government to decide the fate of many promising students in the country.

However, demands of the union were made through a committee set up by the government to negotiate with it. The committee was reportedly headed by Prof. Nimi Briggs.

Speaking, the ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated that the union had done its best in the circumstance.

He added, “we have made our presentations to the committee, and there is nothing more to add.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The unending disagreement between the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the Federal Government is increasingly generating reactions from students and eminent stakeholders across the country on the fate of Nigeria’s university education. In this special report, The Daily Reality gathered different and shocking responses of the students, concerning the lingering issue.

The incessant strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been denounced as a farce that has negatively weakened the students’ morale to further their education in Nigeria.

The menace was also described as one of the most lingering issues that has been paralysing Nigerian universities, leading to the delay in students’ graduation and the deterioration of the education system in the country.

Some students that took to their social media to decry about the menace and how it slowly spirited their confidence away argued that the strike has destroyed the future of many promising youths in the country.

The Daily Reality recalls that ASUU has been on strike since February 14th, 2022, over the demands that include funding and the revitalization of public universities, Earned Academic Allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) and promotion arrears.

In 2020, the union reportedly suspended its nine-month-long strike after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government.

However, the union bitterly complained that still after a year the federal government is yet to fulfil its promises.

Students are disappointed!

The ASUU strike has disappointed many students and led to the delay in their graduation, the development the students complained had spirited away the remaining confidence they had for studies.

A final year student, Abdurrashid Adamu, decried that, “I have less than six months to graduate from the university. Had I knew of this hitch to my studies, I would have embraced my diploma certificate and that would have been enough for me.”

Another student, Usman Idris Zakariyya, disclosed how ASUU strike has affected him and his friends saying, “many of my friends confided in me that they would not resume if not because they were in 400 level.”

Zulyadaini Auwal, a student who said he had already lost hope, stated that his business will experience a hitch if ASUU calls off their strike.

Khadijatu Abdullahi stated that she has no interest in studies anymore, adding that “had it been I was in 100 or 200 level I would have switched to college of education.”

People are mocking us – students

Some students also lamented the way some people derived very much pleasure in mocking them as the strike seems to have no end in a near future.

A student, Taufiq Musa, bemoaned at the way some people mock them because the ASUU’s strike lingers to about five months.

He stated, “nowadays, people used to mock anyone who determines and concentrates more on studies rather than something else.”

Yusuf Hassan, who seemed to be frustrated, said, “had it been I knew of this hitch in my studies, I would have not enrolled to school, let alone acquiring a diploma certificate.”

Saleh Ibrahim opined that he would have not resume to school if he was in 100 or 200 level, adding that, “and I’m sure many students will not resume.”

Parents raise alarm!

As the strike looks perpetual, some parents lamented that the advancing crisis between the government and ASUU jeopardizes their children’s future.

A parent, Malam Adamu Kolo, who looked disturbed by the unending strike, said that his son would have graduated if not for ASUU incessant strike.

Malam Adamu Kolo said, “My son would have graduated this year if not because of ASUU incessant strike. You can see that I am poor. I am hopeless. Our hope is on this boy.”

Another parent, Malam Musa Mukhtar, said, “our children live with almost no or gloom future. They neither go to school nor do they have anything to do for a living.”

ASUU members amidst hunger, heavy debt

As the strike persists to about four months, ASUU members decried leaving amidst hunger and heavy debt.

The lingering strike led to the imposition of No-Work-No-Pay by the Federal Government. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, stated that the directive was in compliance with Section 43 of the Labour Law.

A Senior Lecturer with the Department of Nigerian Languages, Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Abdullahi, lamented how some of the members live without water and light due to heavy bills accrued.

He stated, “I remember how during the whole month of Ramadan, with the scorching sun and harsh temperature, lecturers languished with dry pockets and no salaries. Many lecturers didn’t have a chance to sew new Sallah (Eid) dresses for their kids, not even for themselves. Yet, another Sallah is approaching without any remorse or sense from this lousy government and its handlers.”

“The Maikantis (petty traders) selling raw rice, beans and other groceries no longer want to see us by their doors. Some of us have already forgotten toothpaste and have opted for chewing sticks now to remain clean.

“Our children have been sent out of schools due to non-payment of school fees. Landlords have knocked and banged on the doors of many; we pacified them, and some of them reason with us,” Sulaiman adeed in a piece he wrote.

No date for resumption

In a recent interview with journalists, the ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said there was no date for resumption, adding that hunger will not force the union to suspend their strike.

He added that the ASUU members are not beggars and the stoppage of their salaries by the government will not force them to call off their strike.

He further commended the members for keeping faith with the union expressing optimism that the union was on the threshold of victory.

However, some news of positive progress concerning ASUU and FG have started to fill social media and there is hope now that the strike may end soon. An ASUU member confirmed to TDR that talks between the FG and ASUU seem positive and now ASUU has already concluded its own part of the agreement, they are now patiently waiting for FG’s response.