Professor Sitsofe Anku, President of Ghana Mathematics Society, on Friday urged students to re-kindle their interest in mathematics, since the subject when well-studied would enable them to contribute to finding solutions to the country’s challenges.

He said it was rather unfortunate that some Ghanaians did not see the importance of Mathematics in problem solving.

Prof. Anku made the call at the second edition of Inter-Tertiary Mathematics competition dubbed: “The Mathelete II”, in Accra.

It was organised by Meagasa Mathematics Academy in collaboration with Ghana Mathematics Society, to expose students to problem solving abilities through the use of Mathematics.

The participating institutions included Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, University of Development Studies, University of Ghana, Accra Polytechnic and All Nations University.

Prof Anku, who is also Director of Meagasa Mathematics Academy, said Mathematics was essential to every aspect of life and students must be given the opportunity to get its concept early in life in order to build upon it in future.

He explained that there was massive failure in the subject; in 2006, 74 per cent of the students failed, in 2009 about 71 per cent failed and in 2011 about 53 per cent did not pass in the subject.

“Due to the failure in the subject, students will not gain admission into higher learning institutions, thus ending up on the streets for survival,” Prof Anku said.

He announced that next year, the academy would organise Miss Mathematics for tertiary institutions to encourage the study of Mathematics.

Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, commended Prof. Anku for his initiative to encourage the study of Mathematics among students.

The Deputy Minister said Government had instituted a scholarship scheme for Mathematics and Science students to promote the study of the two subjects.

Dr Ahmed said there was the need to change the way the subject was taught and learnt in schools.

He said that Government would soon launch the Ghana Science Space Centre to provide accurate information about economic impact of climatic conditions.

The Deputy Minister praised the participants for their interest in Mathematics and for participating in the competition.**