Effective, efficient teacher-training antidote for mass failure

In order to improve the quality of education in the country, and curb the rising case of mass failure in examination, effective, efficient training and retraining of teachers remains critical.

Chairman, Lagos Anglican Schools Management Board (LASMAB), Dr. Femi Ogunsanya, who spoke during a training workshop for members of staff of LASMAB, insisted that the importance of exposing teachers to modern methodologies of teaching cannot be overemphasised.

At the training, which had as its theme: “Sustaining the Momentum in Raising the Bars in LASMAB Schools,’ Ogunsanya, who expressed concern over the standard of education in the country noted that, “In our time, we had good quality education, but these days things have declined. Mass failure can be addressed through training and equipping the teachers to know what the current methodology of classroom management is, and how you can inject quality into teaching and learning. It is only through this that students’ performance can be impacted. Effective, efficient training of the educators themselves is the bedrock of improved performance of students.

The LASMAB boss, who said the essence of the retreat was to address the issue of human capacity building, added that the board remains a firm believer in continuous professional development of all members of staff.

Similarly, Executive Secretary of the board, Venerable Victor Ayo Olusa, noted that problems besetting the education sector in the country were not as a result of policy inadequacy, but that of implementation. “So we have to do things the way they should be done and remain focused.”

On the training proper, he said: “We also believe in manpower development and fostering relationships among our staff so that they can become relevant in today’s competitive world. We also want to improve the productivity and performance of our staff and move the schools to a higher level.

“Anglican schools have always been at the forefront of educational development. We pioneered secondary education in this country with the establishment of CMS Grammar School,” he informed.

Principal, Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School, Lagos State, Rev. Osunyomi Bamidele, in his remarks, said, “The training is meant to equip us even as we enter another academic session, so that we can give the best of our service to our students.”

On his part, proprietor of Lagos Anglican schools and Bishop of Badagry, Adeyemi Babatunde Joseph, emphasised the importance of capacity building, adding that effective training of teachers will enable them know that there are better ways of imparting knowledge into the students. We are also not only concerned about the academic progress of the students, but also interested in their moral and spiritual success.