The Rotary Club of Abuja Imperial, on Monday emphasised the need for regular training for teachers as critical in transforming the country’s education sector.
Mr Adedotun Amori, Charter President of Rotary Club of Abuja Imperial, said this at a hybrid workshop on Basic Education and Literacy organised for 41 teachers of Stella Maris Nursery and Primary School, Abuja.
The workshop was organised both physically and via webinar platforms in commemoration of 2022 World Teachers Day.
It had the theme: “The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers”.
According to Amori, the goal is to take action by strengthening the capacity of communities and working closely with schools to support their work to improve education.
“Supporting our teachers is key to our achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education),’’ he said.
Amori said that the essence of the workshop was to educate, edify, and inspire teachers by introducing new concepts, ideas, methods, practical skills and techniques.
“This will inspire their pupils and students, improve learning outcomes in the classroom, and ensure quality education ultimately,’’ he said.
Some stakeholders in their lectures appealed to the teachers to be creative with a view to positively impact their students and raise productive adults.
Dr Adebayo Kolade, a writer and past President of the Rotary Club of Abuja imperial, called for a shift from the conventional teaching style to a more creative approach.
According to him, the transformative teacher is a creative teacher.
“Following the curriculum to the end might not be the only thing or the major thing the children require.
“Actually, experience has become something that will stay with children a lot and it takes a native teacher to give young people rich experience that stays with them.
“And you make things around them interesting by being extremely creative; children love things that engage them,’’ he said.
According to Kolade, teachers can stimulate interesting environment by introducing new ideas.
“How can I make the content itself creative, how can I make the learning modules creative?
“When you think of the topics in mathematics that are difficult; there are chances that the teacher has not found a creative way to teach them.
“When a teacher comes to class and he makes things practical, he has made things easier for the child to understand.
“But when he follows the curriculum the way it is, without thinking creatively and engaging the kids so that they can relate to the topic, he or she will be lost,’’ he said.
“What I plead with us is that with every concept, especially with concepts that pupils think are difficult, just think of things you can use to unlock the door for them.
“We want to encourage every teacher to think creatively and about how to unlock the creativity of their children by you yourself being creative with the academic content.
“I think a lot of it has to do with practical things that you can bring to class that is engaging,’’ Kolade said.
Dr Olukayode Obayomi said that in the past, primary school students perceived science subjects as difficult and abstract because of the way teachers took them through the subjects.
“It looked abstract because we looked at it from the perspective of things that cannot be interpreted in the real world situation,’’ he said.
Obayomi said that teachers must develop problem solving skills and not just teach some of the subjects as an abstract.
According to him, teachers at primary school level must influence pupils to love Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) which is critical in instilling passion for innovation.
“A good foundation should be laid at the primary school level, being the beginning of education and the foundation of our education system for science, technology, engineering and mathematical education.
“Students should see STEM as a friendly, familiar and interesting area of study.
“STEM teaches thinking skills and instills passion for innovation; it also helps in demystifying the seemingly abstract nature of the sciences.
“More so, it helps in problem solving and exploration learning that fuels critical thinking and problem solving in real situation in life,’’ he said.
Similarly, Dr Adefunke Ekine, Associate Professor of Childhood Education, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, identified ages zero to eight as the most critical in the developmental stages of a child.
Ekine said that the position of a teacher handling children within that age bracket was critical.
“90 per cent of childrens’ brain is developed within the ages zero to eight and most of the time within this age they are in school; so you can see the importance of the teacher or the care giver at this level,’’ Ekine said.
Also, Dr Ayo Adene in his lecture, said that teachers at this level helped the child develop cognitively, emotionally and psychologically.
“It is in a loving environment that the child can learn,’’ he said.
He urged them to avoid stigma and introducing fear by regulating disciplinary actions.
“Primary education is crucial and teachers who work with them at that level can make or break the destiny of the child,’’ Adene said.
Mrs Mary Ugwu, Headmistress, Stella Maris Nursery and Primary School, Abuja, commended the Rotary Club for the gesture.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that certificates of participation were presented to the teachers by the immediate past president of the club, Mrs Ifeoma Ihenacho, who noted that the formative age was critical in the development of a child. (NAN)
