PTDF to print one million science textbooks — Lokpobiri

To boost the integration of science courses among students at the basic school level, the Federal Government has taken steps to print one million science textbooks.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Heineken Lokpobiri disclosed the plan on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

He explained that the project would be executed through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF.

According to Lokpobiri, there is a discovery that students are lagging in science courses, a development that is creating gaps in technology advancement.

The minister said: “Today, we brought a memo on behalf of the PTDF, which is the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, which had initiated a programme called the PTDF Stem Fund.

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“STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Some time ago, the PTDF, which is the creation of law with the mandate to build the capacity of Nigerians in oil and gas industry, came up with a programme called PTDF, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Programme.

“They sought to obtain presidential approval. Today, we brought a memo to Council to be able to print one million science textbooks. The science courses that were identified in which Nigerians have deficiencies are physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and computer science.

“It is believed that for us to match up with the rest of the world, we needed to build capacity at the secondary school level. This programme is meant to print one million science textbooks that will be distributed to all the local government, 774 local government areas in the country, and to support the 104 unity schools that we have in the country, and then 122 special schools that we have in the country.

“This memo was brought before Council. It was approved by Council. Essentially, what is important is that this is a support and dual capacity at the secondary school level to match up with the rest of the world in terms of technological and engineering development. We need to lay a very solid foundation.”