Teaching Science, Technology and Mathematics Education in a Terrorist Environment: A Challenge to Sustainable National Development

Abstract

Science, technology and mathematics education play a crucial role in the economic and social transformation of nations of the world. No wonder the Nigerian Policy on Education stipulates that science should be compulsory at the basic and secondary levels of education. At the tertiary level of education, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations Board mandates that admission into Nigerian universities should be in the ratio of 60:40 in favour of science and its related courses. Could these dreams be realized in an environment which poses serious threats to security, peace and educational advancement of the society? This paper focuses on the concept of terrorism and the devastating effects of terrorist attacks on effective delivery of science, technology, and mathematics (STM) education, particularly in the North East and North Central geo-political zones of Nigeria. The challenges the problem poses to sustainable national development were further discussed. Recommendations made were as follows: Nigeria should work in collaboration with notable countries of the world which has been able to tackle terrorism successfully as a way out of its present predicament; issues of terrorism and ways of averting them should be incorporated into the nation's school science curricular at all levels of education.