Ghana rolls out African numerals for learning in schools

[00:00:00]Could Africa's own number system make mathematics easier to understand?

[00:00:05]In Tamale, northern Ghana, peoples are being introduced to African numerals, a locally developed numbering system.

[00:00:14]It's part of a pilot project designed to simplify counting and improve numeracy skills.

[00:00:22]>> With the African numeral, the children count based on the stripings on the aids, the teaching aids.

[00:00:31]But with the uh conventional numerals, most children have to either do circles inside their books or use their fingers to count and now put them together and add. But with this one, when you just count, you count and get the number straight.

[00:00:50]>> For generations, African children have been taught to count numerals originating outside the continent. But now, a growing conversation is asking the question, should African schools begin to teach its children using its own historic number systems?

[00:01:08]The system was developed by inventor Amadou Houdu, who says it could help tackle one of education's biggest challenges, making mathematics less intimidating, especially for struggling learners.

[00:01:23]>> It will make positive impact on the children, especially the girl child, because learning mathematics sometimes is making some of the get some of the children to drop out. Immediately they just get to some level, they are saying that mathematics is difficult, they can't cope up. But this one will encourage them, will develop more interest for them to love mathematics and therefore continue with it till they reach the highest level.

[00:01:55]>> Many students taking part in the pilot say the approach makes numbers easier to understand.

[00:02:15]The initiative has received backing from both the Ghana Education Service and the Mathematical Association of Ghana, boosting its potential as a teaching tool.

[00:02:25]>> This is a wall clock programmed with African numerals. It helps even the non-formal group, like these women, to tell time easily.

[00:02:47]>> Beyond the classroom, supporters say the numerals could help improve everyday numeracy skills, including telling time.

[00:02:56]>> It's not like the root learning we did.

[00:02:59]You you you you take it just like that.

[00:03:01]Nobody explains to you why we have decided to represent four with this symbol. Nobody tells you why nine is written this way, but if you look at African numerals clearly, if if if you look at it and analyze it, um the child doesn't even need to ask that question because that question has already been answered. It's a strip that has one line, which will simply tell you that this is one.

[00:03:26]>> Advocates also argue the system offers a way to strengthen STEM education while reconnecting younger generations with Africa's intellectual heritage.

[00:03:37]>> Uh during the colonial era, they were using numerals in communicating.

[00:03:42]So, if it is taught, it will help the current generation to able to have a knowledge and an effective and efficient way of communicating.

[00:03:50]>> Still, awareness of African numerals remains limited and some learners are uncertain about embracing a new system after years of using conventional numerals.

[00:04:02]>> African numerals, um, we haven't seen them that much. Though I've seen them once, but I've never paid attention to them. And we are used to the conventional ones, which are the European numerals. And I think studying the African numerals will be difficult for us.

[00:04:22]>> As the pilot expands, educators will be watching closely to see whether African numerals can help unlock a new approach to learning mathematics.