Maths Combat Training is Transforming Young Boys in Old Ife Road Community, Ibadan.
Summary
About the Community:
Old Ife Road in Ibadan, Oyo State, is a vibrant but underserved community where access to modern educational tools is limited.While many students show enthusiasm for learning, traditional teaching methods often fail to engage them fully, making innovative programs like the Maths Combat Abacus Training essential for improving numeracy skills.
About the Program:
Loyola College Junior Secondary School, an all-boys institution, is known for its structured learning environment, discipline, and academic ambition. The school welcomed the Maths Combat Abacus Training Program to expose students to a new, interactive approach to learning mathematics beyond the conventional classroom setting.
About the Program:
The Maths Combat Abacus Training at Loyola College Junior Secondary School was a two-month intensive program designed to help 60 students develop mental arithmetic skills, concentration, and problem-solving abilities. The curriculum covered counting, place values, addition, and subtraction, with an emphasis on speed and accuracy. Using a hands-on learning approach, students gradually advanced from basic number recognition to solving complex calculations with ease.
Despite initial skepticism, the program achieved a 90% completion rate, with students demonstrating significant improvements in arithmetic speed and confidence. Many reported that they could now perform calculations faster without relying on calculators or written methods, and some even began applying their new skills in other subjects like science and accounting.
Training Methodology
The training followed a structured and interactive model to keep students engaged
- Live Demonstrations: Instructors showed real-time abacus calculations to reinforce learning.
- Pair and Group Work: Students collaborated to solve problems and reinforce understanding.
- Step-by-Step Skill Building: Simple concepts were introduced before advancing to complex arithmetic.
- Speed and Accuracy Drills: Timed exercises helped students improve their calculation speed.
- Math Team Competitions: Friendly challenges motivated students to apply their skills in an exciting way.
Challenges and Solutions
- Struggle with Hand-Eye Coordination: Some students initially found it difficult to manipulate the abacus quickly.
- Solution: Repetitive drills and fine motor skill exercises helped them improve.
- Short Attention Span: Many students lost focus during long sessions.
- Solution: The curriculum was adjusted to include more interactive games and timed challenges to maintain engagement.
- Limited Access to Practice Tools: Some students didn’t have abacuses at home for additional practice.
- Solution: The school allowed students to borrow abacuses after class and encouraged peer study groups.
By the end of the program, students showed remarkable progress in solving arithmetic problems mentally, with some completing calculations in seconds without external aids. Teachers also reported increased participation and enthusiasm for mathematics in regular classes, suggesting a lasting impact on students' academic growth.
Conclusion:
The overwhelming success of this program highlights the need for expansion into more schools, with recommendations to include advanced arithmetic topics, digital tools, and more frequent practice sessions to sustain long-term benefits.