THE Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has suggested the need for teachers to focus more on motivating and teaching mathematics to lay a solid foundation in preparing creative people who are able to find solutions and enable youth to create jobs.

Dr Jabiri Bakari TCRA director general made the suggestion here at the weekend when speaking at the joint session that involved 129 mathematics teachers from across the country who gathered at the Mkwawa University of Education. 

At the session, teachers got an avenue for them to extensively discuss various issues related to development of mathematics for the growth of the digital economy

Dr Bakari said that western countries focused on preparing their youngsters through programme in transportation, banking, finance, entertainment, tourism and other sectors.

“If we do not focus on preparing our children from primary schools to love Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, we will be preparing the nation to be users of those programmes and not the innovators,” he said.

Dr Bakari who is also an expert in Information and Communication Technology noted that mathematics should be taught strategically and motivate pupils to continue learning due to its importance as the backbone technological development of computer science, telecommunications, and technology in matters of finance (FinTech), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

According to him, TCRA has improved service delivery through the presence of various systems such as the Tanzanite Portal licence application system and quality systems monitoring that have been designed and developed by Tanzanian professionals who are experts in computer programming. 

Dr Said Sima, chairman of the Tanzania Mathematics Association (CHAHITA) said that the association prepared the training for mathematics teachers to learn and enliven the methods of teaching various topics. 

 “The use of IT enables pupils to access links to various websites with science content,” he said. 

TCRA recognised the importance of players joining together and encouraged the establishment of Digital Clubs from primary schools to universities

Digital clubs are voluntary clubs in which pupils through their schools under the supervision of their teachers meet and collaborate in designing solutions that increase productivity in society. 

The Association of Mathematics Teachers in Tanzania was established in 1966 to boost the growth of mathematics in the country. Every year the association conducts a training session to discuss various methods of teaching mathematics and solving the challenges that arise.