The Nation
By the time some 100 teachers participating in the Jewel of Africa (JOA) Inc Foundation training in Lagos resume for the new session next month, they would be better prepared to write lesson plans and deliver the curriculum in a way that would improve their pupils’ learning outcomes.
The five-day programme with the theme: The making of an Effective Teacher – Part One (Fundamentals of Impactful Teaching), opened Monday at Halified School, Maryland to public and private school teachers who had pre-registered for the training.
President of JOA Mrs Lara Gureje-Oderinde said the NGO was funded by six Nigerians in the Diaspora, who aim to contribute to the revitalisation of Nigeria’s education system having benefited from attending public schools before relocating.
She said: “The drive for JOA is to put our blueprint in Lagos. I left this country over 35 years ago. We wanted to stop brokenness and leakages in the education sector in Nigeria. We want to make sure we reposition education the way it used to be, so no one will have to take their kids to private schools,” she said.
Mrs Gureje-Oderinde said teachers who pass through the training should be able to complete their syllabus within the specified time and also learn how to engage various categories of learners.
She said the training was foundational and that participants would be monitored for one year to see how they utilise what they learn. She added that the second stage of the training, which would be more intensive, would last two weeks, and would be implemented only for beneficiaries of the first training who have been effective in using what they learnt.
Over 500 teachers registered for the training which was holding in Lagos for the first time even though JOA has worked in Nigeria for about five years. However, only 100 were accepted on first come-first serve basis. Mrs Gureje-Oderinde expressed sadness that many could not participate and urged states to partner with JOA so that more teachers could benefit. She thanked the Lagos State government for its interest in the training.
“JOA is here for the long run.All we ask every state is to give us space. We had about 600 people enrolled. It breaks my heart we could only take almost 100,” she said.
Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs Toyin Awoseyi, thanked the NGO for coming to Lagos. She also thanked the participants for coming during the holidays to learn.
“The hall is filled even though today is a holiday. It shows the teachers are willing to learn.This new initiative will give information that can be very impactful to our teachers, which they can in turn impact on their students. It is not enough for students to pass exams, but the children should be able to solve problems,” she said.
Two Tutor-General Permanent Secretaries for Education Districts One, Dr Yinka Ayandele, and Six, Mrs Okelola Oludara, praised the training. Dr Ayandele said it was good that the teachers were learning how to write the lesson plans, which she said was crucial for teachers. She added that it was important the training addressed how to teach large classes.
Speaking at the event, a guest, Mr Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, urged other Nigerians abroad to come join hands in building Lagos State.
“I would like to encourage Diasporians out there to come back home-to Lagos in particular. We are readyto receive your ideas, all the knowledge you’ve stored all these years. Come and deposit it in our lives, in students, teachers, economy so that we can grow to develop that greater Lagos,” he said.