Aishatu Jafaar Suleiman, the FCT Secondary Education Board Desk Officer for Robotic Education, has emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive teacher training to close the learning divide between educators and students across the Federal Capital Territory.
Sulaiman spoke in Abuja on Monday during a sensitisation programme organised by Change a Child Community Initiative, at the Government Day Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji and Government Secondary School, Kubwa, in the Bwari Area Council.
She said the administration of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is doing its best in terms of renovation of schools, provision of materials and infrastructure, but more needs to be done in teachers’ development.
According to her, “The government is doing its best, and there has been so much improvement in the renovation of schools and the provision of learning materials, but teachers are in dire need of training.
“We are not asking for too much, but for training and retraining so that we can give our best.
“Despite not being in the class at the moment, I still train and pay for online courses that I believe will be beneficial to my profession because once a teacher, you’re always a teacher,” she said.
Similarly, Founder and Lead Educator, Change a Child Community Initiative, Blessing Okwuchukwu Awamba, said the Initiative was birthed with the mindset of catching school children young and inculcating values that are needed for national development as the vices in society have continued to surge.
She disclosed that the programme, which is set to run for five years, has been designed for expansion to various states, with a few states already in the kitty as beneficiaries.
She said the themes, which are all-encompassing, have been well thought of and carefully selected to tally with the socioeconomic challenges being experienced within the particular geographical locations.
What You Should Know
This news highlights the ongoing challenges within public education in the FCT, where physical infrastructure is improving, but professional development for teachers remains insufficient.
- Positive Impact: Better training for teachers can significantly improve classroom instruction, student engagement, and overall academic performance in schools.
- Potential Concerns: Without adequate government support for professional development, teachers may continue to struggle with modern educational demands, ultimately affecting the quality of learning for students.
