Rotary trains 41 teachers on modern skills, technology

The Rotary Club of Abuja has trained 41 teachers on modern skills, ideas and techniques critical to the transformation of the country’s education sector.

The Charter President of Rotary Club of Abuja, Mr Adeotun Amori, said the move became necessary to boost teachers’ performances in line with global best practices.

Amori spoke at a hybrid workshop on basic education and literacy organised for 41 teachers of Stella Maris Nursery and Primary School in Abuja.

He said: “Our goal is to take action by strengthening the capacity of communities and working closely with schools to support their work to improve education. Supporting teachers is key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.’’

Amori said the workshop was to educate and inspire teachers, by introducing new concepts, ideas, methods, practical skills and techniques.

“This will inspire pupils and students, improve learning outcomes in the classroom, and ensure quality education ultimately,’’ he said.

Stakeholders at the various lectures appealed to teachers to be creative to positively impact their students and raise productive adults.

Dr Adebayo Kolade, writer and past President of Rotary Club of Abuja Imperial, called for a shift from conventional teaching style to a more creative one.

According to Kolade, teachers can stimulate interesting environment by introducing new ideas.

On his part, Dr Olukayode Obayomi, said in the past, primary school students saw science subjects as difficult and abstract, because of the way teachers took them through the subjects.

Obayomi said teachers must develop problem-solving skills and not just teach some of the subjects as abstract.

He pointed out that teachers at primary school level must influence pupils to love Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), which is critical in instilling passion for innovation.

He said: “A good foundation should be laid at the primary school level being the beginning of education and the foundation of our educational system for STEM education.

Obayomi stressed that being creative and able to instill some of the problem solving skills on students would position them to see mathematics as a very friendly subject which is expected to help in technological breakthrough and engineering successes in Nigeria’s economy.

Also contributing, Dr Adefunke Ekine, Associate Professor of Childhood Education, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, identified ages zero to eight as most critical in the developmental stages of a child.

Headmistress, Stella Maris Nursery and Primary School, Abuja, Mrs. Mary Ugwu, commended Rotary Club for the gesture.

Ugwu assured that the teachers would put the knowledge acquired from the workshop into practice.