THE National Bank of Commerce (NBC) continues to support the government's efforts to improve the education sector in the country, by funding the Mathematics Teaching and Learning Motivation Programme in Ubungo District, Dar es Salaam known as ‘KiuHisabati’.
Initiated by Ubungo MP, who is also the Minister of State in the President's Office (Investment), Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, the programme aimed at improving performance in mathematics through various incentives, including awards and prizes, especially cash rewards for teachers who excel in teaching the subject.
Through the programme students who perform well in the subject benefit from sponsorship for their academic needs when they pass to the “A” level education in public schools.
The award ceremony for the teachers was held over the weekend in the constituency, led by the ruling CCM deputy secretary-general, various education stakeholders, NMB Bank officials led by the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), bank's branch manager, Anne Mwaisaka.
Commenting on the initiative, Macha congratulated the MP for devising the program while thanking and requesting NBC Bank to consider expanding the program to reach various areas in the country in order to benefit more teachers and students, a move he said would help boost the success rate in the subject.
“Mathematics is the foundation of all subjects in our education system. Any efforts made by various stakeholders to improve performance in this subject are supported by the party and the government as a whole. This is why we congratulate the Ubungo MP for this great innovation and also thank NBC Bank for its sponsorship in this programme. We strongly urge NBC Bank to consider expanding this program further," said Macha.
Apart from thanking the bank, Prof. Mkumbo stated that it involves teachers and students who achieve grade “A” in mathematics and students who pass the Mathematics subject with grade “A” and “B”.
"Every Mathematics teacher will receive 100,000/- for each student who achieves an A grade in Mathematics in the National Form Four Examination. The student who obtains an “A” grade in the Exams will be provided with all necessary school materials, including uniforms, notebooks, and textbooks, if they enrol in a government school for A level education," he explained.
According to him, since the start of this program in 2020, assessments show that there has been an increase in the number of students achieving “A” and “B” grades in the constituency, but not in reducing the number of students failing mathematics.
"This indicates that the incentive program for teachers has been effective in motivating students to study Mathematics more. However, the challenge is still significant considering that the pass rate for the subject in the Ubungo constituency is only 11 per cent, while the national average for the subject is 19 to 20 per cent," he added.
Mwaisaka stated that the bank's support for the programme is a continuation of its efforts to support government initiatives and other stakeholders aimed at improving the education sector in the country.
"In essence, our funding for this programme aims to stimulate motivation for teachers and students who have performed well in mathematics in the Form Four National examination. As a financial institution, we are directly involved in education, including Mathematics, since our activities are mainly driven by numbers. So we also have a responsibility to ensure its prosperity," she stated.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the teachers and students who benefited from the programme, Michael Msembwe from Kimara Secondary School, who led the way by achieving a pass rate of 20 students with Grade A in Mathematics in the Ubungo constituency, said that the introduction of the program has increased the drive and motivation for teachers and students in that region, which he believes promises a better future in improving the pass rate for mathematics in the coming years.
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