Concerned by the growing shortage of Mathematics teachers, particularly women, in public schools across Rivers State, the Teach Girls Tech Foundation, in partnership with Elsevier MSSF, has launched a targeted intervention aimed at strengthening female participation and improving learning outcomes in Mathematics.

The initiative, tagged “The i-MatheElevate Teachers Workshop,” brought together public primary and junior secondary school teachers at the Centre for Information Technology and Engineering (CITE), University of Port Harcourt. The programme seeks to bridge gender gaps in Mathematics education while equipping teachers with modern, innovative tools to enhance classroom delivery.

Founder of the Teach Girls Tech Foundation and Convener of the i-MatheElevate Project, Engr. Ujiro John, said the intervention was designed to respond to what she described as a global shortage of Mathematics teachers, with women being the most affected.

She explained that the project is inclusive, cutting across gender and disability, while paying special attention to those historically marginalised in Mathematics learning and teaching.

According to her, the pilot phase began in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, where one teacher was selected from each of 40 public primary and junior secondary schools, alongside teachers from three special needs schools.

Participants are being trained to use innovative teaching approaches such as coding, augmented and virtual reality, Rubik’s Cube, abacus, artificial intelligence, and other technical games to stimulate interest and improve Mathematics performance in schools over the long term.

Launching the workshop, Professor Nduka Wonu, a Senior Lecturer at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, called for sustained, statewide capacity-building programmes for Mathematics teachers, especially women. He noted that the challenge of Mathematics education is multi-layered, involving students, teachers, parents, and government, and stressed that empowering teachers remains critical to reversing poor learning outcomes.

Professor Wonu described Mathematics as the backbone of science and development, adding that only well-trained teachers with access to modern and creative strategies can effectively diagnose classroom challenges and improve student understanding.

The Rivers State Ministry of Education also lent its support to the initiative. Represented by the Director of Science and Technical Education, Mrs. Inisefiekabo Tam Job, and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, the ministry commended the Teach Girls Tech Foundation for focusing on female teacher empowerment.

They assured that the state government is working to strengthen Mathematics teaching capacity as part of broader reforms in science and technical education.

Organisers say the i-MatheElevate project is expected not only to boost the number and effectiveness of female Mathematics teachers in Rivers State, but also to inspire improved student interest, confidence, and achievement in the subject.