For many students, mathematics remains surrounded by a persistent myth: that it is difficult, intimidating, and only for a select few. This perception often leads to anxiety, disengagement, and lost opportunities in fields that rely on mathematical thinking.

This year, that narrative took a hopeful turn as HERI Africa launched a research chair in Mathematics Education at the University of Embu, a bold initiative aimed at transforming how mathematics is taught, learned, and experienced across Africa.

The special position created will lead research and innovation in Mathematics Education, informing teaching, policy, and practice. The position comes with the responsibility and resources to lead important research, generate new ideas, and help advance knowledge in a specific area.

The expert will work closely with other researchers, mentor students, and collaborate with institutions and partners to address real-world challenges. The senior leader will play a critical role in understanding how mathematics can be taught and learned more effectively. The goal is not only to advance research but also to support teachers, inspire learners, and help transform the way mathematics is experienced in classrooms.

The launch of the research chair at the University of Embu coincided with the celebration of the International Day of Mathematics, which was also marked at the institution alongside the unveiling of the new office.

Speaking at his unveiling as the research chair of Mathematics Education, Dr Simon Karuku shared his excitement, saying his office was deliberate in its focus on changing students’ perception of mathematics as a tool for solving real-life problems rather than a set of abstract formulas.

“We are asking ourselves, how are we going to prepare teachers so that they are able to support the learners for conceptual understanding as opposed to procedural understanding?” said Dr Karuku, adding, “We will be working with the languages department to know the language to use to enable children to better understand Mathematics.”

He said that investing in research that improves how mathematics is taught and understood will reshape the future of mathematics education on the continent. The goal, he said, was to ensure that more learners encounter mathematics not with fear, but with curiosity and confidence.

University of Embu Vice Chancellor, Prof Daniel Mugendi, said the establishment of the HERI Africa chair in Mathematics Education at the university was significant because it represented an important milestone in the university’s commitment “to advancing research that directly addresses education challenges facing our society.”

Darius Mogaka, the director of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, said there was a need to explore the cause of the negative attitude towards mathematics. He challenged the researchers to start interrogating the root causes of the negative reception of Mathematics among learners.

Mr Mogaka posed, “If it is not the parents, is it the teachers who teach Mathematics? If it is not the teachers, is it the ones who supervise them? If those are not the ones, could it be the instructional materials? Could the publishers and authors have an issue that keeps people from becoming mathematicians? Could it be curriculum designs?  Or could we just say it is the way teachers were trained at the teachers’ training colleges and universities? Is it the teacher or trainers of teachers?”

Dr Hezron Mogaka, the program director of HERI Africa, said the journey to expand opportunities for learners had begun, noting that studies had shown there was too much teaching and little learning, and that this needed to change.

The launch was attended by students, educators, civil society, strategic partners, and research organisations, who promised to work together to improve the quality of education in Africa.