INVESTIGATION ON THE ADOPTION OF ACTIVITY – BASED STUDENTS’ CENTERED, EXPERIMENT AND IMPROVISATION (ASEI/PDSI) AS AN APPROACH FOR STRENGTHENING MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION (SMASE) IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Strengthening of Mathematics and Sciences Education (SMASE) training is an educational
innovation and an initiative of the Nigerian government with the support of the Japanese
International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It was launched out of the need to improve
performance in the crucial Mathematics and science subjects that had been hitherto
unimpressive.This study was to find out the level of awareness of ASEI/PDSI as an approach to
SMASE among mathematics and science teachers in primary schools of northeastern states and
to ascertain the level of attitudinal change among mathematics and science teachers based on
ASEI/PDSI principles. The study employed a descriptive survey design, where a questionnaire
was used to collect data from the selected 139 mathematics and science subject teachers. The
collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine the mean score and standard
deviation to answer the research questions. The result of the study revealed that there is a fair
level of awareness of the SMASE programme among the mathematics and science teachers
which eventually led to a change in attitude and approach towards teaching mathematics and
science. The result also indicated a non-significance difference between the variables tested.
Hence the study recommended among others that teachers should be encouraged to adopt
ASEI/PDSI as an approach to SMASE.