Kabiru Abubakar Tsafe - Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto-Nigeria (original) (raw)

Papers by Kabiru Abubakar Tsafe

Effective Learning of Mathematics from Theory to Practice

Effective learning of Mathematics: From theory to Practice, Oct 10, 2012

It was generally believed that, in the art of teaching regardless of discipline or level of opera... more It was generally believed that, in the art of teaching regardless of discipline or level of operation of the learner, knowledge can best be imparted subject to some prerequisite features to be acquired by both encoders (teachers) and decoders (learners) in what psychologist called delivery and reception theory. For instance, the teacher has to undergo a prescribed training to be acquainted with the knowledge; likewise, the learner has to be ready and capable of receiving the information that may be given to him by the teacher. This may possibly serve as the basis through which students can best learn and understand Mathematics. In this regard, this paper explores what could be termed as an approach suitable for making students of Mathematics best learn Mathematics and offers a conceptual framework of the reasons why student faces challenges associated with Mathematics learning. The paper also contains the contributions of some notable psychologists on how best Mathematics could be taught to students at various stages of development. This ranges from Piagetians stages, Brunner and Gagne.

Sokoto Educational Review, Dec 31, 2014

Journal Article, Oct 1, 2014

Teachers’ performance in teaching mathematics had over the years been persistently poor and the c... more Teachers’ performance in teaching mathematics had over the years been persistently poor and the corresponding effect had been noticeable on students’ performance which resulted in having problem of examination with majority of the students. In order to address the issue, MDGs came in to assist by sponsoring capacity building workshops for primary school teachers so that the problem would be tackled from the grassroots. The paper as such explores the impact of this capacity building workshop and how it assists teachers since its inception on how to increase their level of competence which would help them when they come deliver lesson in the class. Two instruments were used for the study; named Teacher Competence Test (TCT) and Pupils’ Performance Test (PPT). The result of the study shows that there is difference in the performance of pupils taught by teachers that attended the MDGs capacity building workshop. Sixty (60) teachers were selected purposively for the study and four hundred and eighteen (418) pupils were selected to form the sample of the students. Hypotheses stated in the study were tested at 0.05 level of significance. After testing the hypotheses, it was found that both the performances of teachers and pupils were tremendously increased as a result of the capacity building workshop. The paper finally offers recommendations on how to help teachers increase their performance by exposing them to more rigorous academic training and the programme should be extended to senior secondary school teachers.

Psychological Skills: Stringent factors in Understanding learning abilities of Mathematics Learner, Jan 20, 2014

Learning of mathematics is considered to be a daunting task to some learners and had, on various ... more Learning of mathematics is considered to be a daunting task to some learners and had, on various occasions been found to be persistently complaining about its abstraction in geometry, trigonometry and statistics etc. In view of this, the paper offers some psychological skills, which if applied by a classroom teacher would enhance the rate at which the learner at whatever level would be made to learn mathematics in an easiest way possible. Some of the qualities suggested by the paper to be possessed by the teacher to enable him carry out the teaching effectively included, level of educational attainment, and mastery of the subject matter, ability to deliver while in the classroom, teachers' social disposition and temperament among others. The paper, at the end recommended among other things that Mathematics teachers should, on regular basis embark on rigorous academic training to enable them possess the required psychological knowledge and skills that will be sufficient enough to make them handle their learners effectively.

Mathematics Literacy: an Agent of Poverty Alleviation and National Development, Nov 30, 2013

The phenomenon of poverty has been affecting societies of the world from time immemorial and curr... more The phenomenon of poverty has been affecting societies of the world from time immemorial and currently the disturbing trend of its menace is quite worrisome; as a result of which societies are committed to see to its alleviation to some level if not completely eradicated. To do this, the paper looks at the duo of mathematics literacy and poverty to see how the former, if acquired by individuals could be used to address the latter. Mathematics literacy enables individuals to be acquainted with basic mathematical skills so as to handle effectively well the aspects of local trading, business and entrepreneurship. Quite a number of views as advanced by scholars and some world economic policy agencies were discussed in the paper and their bearing to national development. The role of mathematics in the reduction of poverty and national development was also highlighted. The paper in the end recommended how mathematics literacy could be applied in alleviating poverty and the sustenance of national development.

Paper presented at the 4th National Conference of the Faculty of Social Sciences Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto-Nigeria between 13th-16th May 2003

""""Abstract The paper examines contemporary issues in education as it relates to nation build... more """"Abstract

The paper examines contemporary issues in education as it relates to nation building and national development. The current trends in Nigerian education system were closely highlighted and their bearings to national development were discussed. The paper goes to further state the role played by education in national development. Contemporary issues in education that were raised by the paper included Almajiri education system, Nomadic education system, Tsangaya education system, Universal Basic education, the new nine year basic education curriculum and a host of other education issues. The paper lastly offers recommendations on how best government at various tiers can improve education so as to ensure national development in every sector of the economy.
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Towards Effective Utilization of Instructional Materials in Mathematics

Mathematics teaching has been described by scholars to be a task found at various times to be dau... more Mathematics teaching has been described by scholars to be a task found at various times to be daunting and with a recorded number of success and failure. It could be made to be more enticing if certain requirements are maintained. One of these requirements is adequate and relevant instructional materials. In this regard therefore, this paper portrays what an instructional material is; instructional materials in mathematics and how best these materials could be utilized by both teachers and learners. The paper further recommends how teachers can best use instructional materials and strategies to apply in improvising instructional materials where they are found to be in short supply or grossly in adequate.

Problems and Prospects of Almajiri Education in northern Nigeria, Mar 30, 2013

""The issue of Almajiri education has been a subject of discussion among scholars and a subject o... more ""The issue of Almajiri education has been a subject of discussion among scholars and a subject of great concern to the authorities. Almajiri education started from time immemorial in the Northern part of Nigeria. This paper tries to clarify how the whole process started; the various dimensions the system took overtime and how government came in to rescue the deteriorating state of the system by integrating the system with the modern system, thereby making the beneficiaries (Almajirai) learn both the Almajiri education and the modern education simultaneously. In the end, the paper offers suggestions as to how the system could be improved so as to meet the standard set by National Policy on Education and subsequently attain Education for All (EFA)

Effective learning of Mathematics: From theory to Practice, Oct 10, 2012

A Critical Analysis of Universal Basic Education on its Implementation so far, Jan 29, 2013

This paper attempts to give a general overview of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme in N... more This paper attempts to give a general overview of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme in Nigeria. It ranges from the purpose of its establishment, its objective, the framework for its operation, its implementation so far and the challenges the scheme is currently facing. The paper suggests the way forward for the Universal Basic Education Scheme in Nigeria. In this regard, a lot of contributions were made by quite a number of academics which were reviewed by the writer. The main purpose of the establishment of the scheme as captured in schemes’ document was to enable individuals to live a meaningful and fulfilling lives, contribute to the development of the society, derive maximum social, economic and cultural benefits from the society and discharge their civic obligations competently. Meanwhile, in addition to funding issues, the paper highlighted inadequate sensitization strategies as impediments to the proper implementation of the scheme. This was followed lastly by critiquing based on personal conviction of the writer as to the UBE scheme in Nigeria.

Teacher Pedagogical Knowledge in Mathematics: a tool for addressing learning problems, Jan 29, 2013

This paper attempts to give a pedagogical role a classroom teacher is suppose to play in dissemin... more This paper attempts to give a pedagogical role a classroom teacher is suppose to play in disseminating and imparting of mathematical knowledge. To achieve this, the paper focuses on the concept of teacher pedagogy, pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and mathematical pedagogical knowledge. Problems encountered by teachers as a consequence of mathematical pedagogy have been closely looked at, and possible solutions offered.

Conference Presentations by Kabiru Abubakar Tsafe

The paper offers a blueprint of the contribution of mathematics education to the economic develop... more The paper offers a blueprint of the contribution of mathematics education to the economic development of the country. From the beginning, the paper presents the provision made by National Policy on Education (NPE) on the need by the citizens to acquire the knowledge of mathematics from primary through secondary and up to tertiary level of education. Economic development was considered to be the process of social and environmental transformation which is aimed at enabling the country to make a judicious use of its resources whereby the paper submits that sustainable development can only be possible through sound mathematical models and these models can only be developed by mathematician and mathematics educators who are considered experts in that respect. On sustainability, it was viewed by the paper to be a relatively long term effect of a certain policy developed to impact on the social life of the citizens. In the end, the paper passes recommendation on how mathematics could be used to ensure sustainable economic development in the country. This, the paper maintains could be through production of mathematicians who would work in collaboration with country’s economic team to develop working models that will be used to improve economic policies in the country.

The paper dwelled exhaustively in the area of mathematics education in Nigeria and how it could b... more The paper dwelled exhaustively in the area of mathematics education in Nigeria and how it could be used in the employment generation and sustainability in the country. Mathematics education was viewed in the paper to be the type of knowledge that affords individual the opportunity to acquire the knowledge of statistics, which is considered vital in the development of business plan which can serve as a means of employment generation. Failure to engage youth in gainful employment opportunities may push them to become involved in many social problems like snatching, thuggery, drugging, theft, trafficking and prostitution among others. But when they are provided with sound education, especially mathematics, they will be productive and become agents through which sustainable employment could be generated. The paper at the end recommended that mathematics curriculum should be re-structured so as to allow for the inclusion of vocational and technical applications for grooming students with the necessary skills, capable of making them employers of labour not job seekers. If this should happen, employment generation in Nigeria could be guaranteed.

Abstract In many African countries, access to education by most of the people has been very wor... more Abstract
In many African countries, access to education by most of the people has been very worrisome despite the international call for the provision of Education for All (EFA) in every community around the globe. In Nigeria, the problem has worsened especially with the proclamation by authorities recently that no less than 10.5 million children of school going age are out of school. On the other hand, education was considered to be an agent through whom peace could be enthroned in the society. It is against this backdrop that the paper dwells much on Nigerian education system in terms of its quality and access by Nigerians and how education in general could be used as an instrument to ensure peaceful co-existence in the entire continent of Africa. For education to be repositioned, the paper maintains that the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has to be made to be rigorous in the present curriculum as against what is obtainable in the past when ICT was not prevalent. Mathematics and science education were also considered in the paper in terms of quality and access by Nigerians. However, the paper argues that the duo of mathematics and science education could be used to achieve peaceful co-existence in Africa as well. In the end, the paper recommended amongst other things that curriculum should be re-structured to encompass peace education which may not only be restricted to Nigeria but extended to the entire continent of Africa. Mathematics and science education were also recommended to be provided to Nigerians and Africans; the duo of which should be qualitative and accessible.
Keywords: Quality Education, Accessible Education, Peaceful Co-existence, Mathematics and Science

Abstract The phenomenon of poverty has been affecting societies of the world from time immemoria... more Abstract
The phenomenon of poverty has been affecting societies of the world from time immemorial and currently the disturbing trend of its menace is quite worrisome; as a result of which societies are committed to see to its alleviation to some level if not completely eradicated. To do this, the paper looks at the duo of mathematics literacy and poverty to see how the former, if acquired by individuals could be used to address the latter. Mathematics literacy enables individuals to be acquainted with basic mathematical skills so as to handle effectively well the aspects of local trading, business and entrepreneurship. Quite a number of views as advanced by scholars and some world economic policy agencies were discussed in the paper and their bearing to national development. The role of mathematics in the reduction of poverty and national development was also highlighted. The paper in the end recommended how mathematics literacy could be applied in alleviating poverty and the sustenance of national development.

This paper attempts to give a general overview of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme in N... more This paper attempts to give a general overview of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme in Nigeria. How Universal Basic Education could be used to achieve national understanding and integration has also been looked at in the paper. Universal Basic Education started in the defunct Western Region by its then Premier Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Universal Primary Education. Later, it was copied by other regions of the country; namely Northern and Eastern regions. But it was marred by a number of shortcomings as a result of which it was subsequently transformed and launched nationally in 1976 by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as the then Head of State. This was followed by critiquing based on personal conviction of the writers as to the UBE scheme in Nigeria. The paper suggests how the Scheme can be improved and used as a tool to achieve national understanding in Nigeria.

Effective Learning of Mathematics: From theory to Practice

It was generally believed that, in the teaching art regardless of discipline or level of operatio... more It was generally believed that, in the teaching art regardless of discipline or level of operation of the learner, knowledge can best be imparted subject to some prerequisite features to be acquired by both encoders (teachers) and decoders (learners) in what psychologist called delivery and reception theory. For instance, the teacher has to undergo a prescribed training to be acquainted with the knowledge likewise the learner has to be ready and capable of receiving the information that may be given to him by the teacher. This may possibly serve as the basis through which students can best learn and understand Mathematics. In this regard, this paper explores what could be termed as an approach suitable for making students of Mathematics best learn Mathematics and offers a conceptual framework of the reasons why student faces challenges associated with Mathematics learning. Also in the paper is the contribution of some notable psychologists on how best Mathematics could be taught to students at various stages of development. This ranges from Piagetians stages, Brunner and Gagne.

Teacher Pedagogical Knowledge in Mathematics

Comtemporary Issues in Education: Implication for National Development

The paper examines contemporary issues in education as it relates to nation building and national... more The paper examines contemporary issues in education as it relates to nation building and national development. The current trends in Nigerian education system were closely highlighted and their bearings to national development were discussed. The paper goes to further state the role played by education in national development. Contemporary issues in education that were raised by the paper included Almajiri education system, Nomadic education system, Tsangaya education system, Universal Basic education, the new nine year basic education curriculum and a host of other education issues. The paper lastly offers recommendations on how best government at various tiers can improve education so as to ensure national development in every sector of the economy.