‘Give teachers specialised training to tutor gifted pupils’

A Professor of Education Measurement, Evaluation, Gifted Education and Gender Studies at Abia state University, Uturu (ABSU), Dr Nnenna Mkpa, has emphasised the need for the Federal Government to create better and more equitable schools that would address the myriads of challenges confronting the sector and identify gifted children from the talent pool in the country.

Mkpa, who disclosed this while presenting the university’s 76th inaugural lecture, also tasked states to establish gifted academies for their exceptionally talented children.

In the lecture titled: “Unveiling the enigma: An evaluation of the intelligence of the gifted child,” Mkpa stressed the need for teachers to be specially trained in handling gifted pupils. She added that decisions on gifted education programmes should be data-driven, and inculcate the best international and global best practices.”

While stressing the need to invest in gifted education by having it as a separate academic core discipline and integrating it into the teacher education programme, Mkpa pointed out that gifted education is beyond earning good grades, high test scores and advanced degrees.