Mathematics teacher publishes textbook
Tapela Morapedi | Friday April 7, 2017 16:20
He has been manipulating numbers as a teacher for 13 years and endured the tedious process of having to refer to too many textbooks when teaching, prompting him to write his own “one-stop-shop” textbook to make teaching and learning easier.
He says the textbooks that he used as a student back in his school days are still used today, mainly because there are not many scholars who have written Mathematics books here at home.
Moseki has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Botswana and is a certified examiner with the Botswana Examination Council.
He says the book covers material from Form One to Form Five, closing the gaps left out by other textbooks in the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) syllabus.
He noted that curriculum changes can put widely used textbooks out-of-date hence the need for a comprehensive textbook aligned with the new standards and scope of coverage.
“The book has included topics such as surds, highest common factor, geometrical terms and linear interpolation which are in the syllabus but are rarely found in many textbooks,” he said.
After years of teaching Mathematics, Moseki has found the subject to be challenging to many students.
With his book, he hopes to address the challenges faced by students and arouse their interest in manipulating numbers through simple examples to assist even those who are not gifted to understand and love the subject.
He points out that experience and interaction with students of various abilities has made him develop an extensive understanding of their Mathematical challenges and needs. The topics are arranged according to the BGCSE syllabus, from easy to more challenging ones. He has connected related topics for continuity.
The book is an easy approach to difficult mathematics questions with comprehensive examples. The concepts have been expressed in simpler and shorter form, large font and very clear diagrams to cater for students with various abilities.
The teacher-turned-author says he has submitted his book to curriculum development to be reviewed for recommendation, a process he described as daunting. In the meantime he wants parents to buy the book for their children at a cost of P300 and is available at Pioneer Book Store in Selebi-Phikwe.
The 36-year-old teacher originates from Serorome ward in Palapye and is the last born of four siblings.
Though he believes to be taking after his father academically and possess vast experience in Mathematics coupled with a passion to manipulate numbers everyday, Moseki has never been a top class student nor won any award for outstanding performance in the subject.
“However I have won an award for producing best BGCSE results as a teacher,” he said.
Like any other ordinary Motswana child Moseki grew up with his parents in Selebi-Phikwe and went to local schools until he graduated from the University of Botswana. He went to Phikwe primary school and progressed to Meepong Secondary School before going to Selebi-Phikwe Senior Secondary School.
He added that his passion for the mathematics developed when he was already working as a teacher. “The fact that I have a passion for drawing graphs in the computer made my job much easier,” he said.
The challenge he came across in his dream to produce the textbook was printing, which is very expensive and far beyond what he had anticipated. He spent his savings to pursue his dream.
“It took me a year and two months to compile the 310 page textbook. It has not yet been officially launched but I have introduced it to the education office in Selebi-Phikwe where it has been appreciated,” he said.