Early Child Education: UNICEF, NCCE Introduces New Approach
Early Child Education: UNICEF, NCCE Introduces New Approach
By Alex Uangbaoje
United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with
National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) says it has introduced new measures to teaching and learning in the Nigerian education sector.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers during a 3 day Early Childhood Education Development programme in Kaduna, Mr. Jonathan Yock of the Information and Communication Technology unit, National Commission for Colleges of Education. said the measure is met to help children of ages 1-5 on how to relate with their teaching aids and make them more practical.
According to Jonathan, “it is a child-centred approach, the training is a shift from the didactic method where teachers guide children to learn primarily through rote and memorization.”
“In this new approach, the teacher plays the role of a facilitator and guide, basing curriculum goals on children’s interests and using local materials and resources to support their learning.”
“Also it’s an inclusive method that supports integration of children with special needs, supporting them to reach their potential, this approach increases mastery of skills by the children, giving ample opportunity for them to learn through play, while gaining self-confidence, critical thinking and collaboration skills.”
The training programme in Kaduna was meant to train lecturers of colleges of education across the country that will in turn go back to their various states and train ECD teachers in public schools through State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB)
“The lecturers that are being trained are expected to return to their states and step down the training to ECD teachers in the public schools.” he said.
The new approach otherwise known as “The Reggio Emilia Approach” was first introduced in Canada and adopted by UNICEF Nigeria and NCCE.
The three days training programme which was titled “A National Training-the-trainer program utilizing the emergent curriculum” have lecturers of about 33 selected colleges of education from 13 states across the country in attendance.
The following states are beneficiaries of the programme:
Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ebonyi, Benue, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Katsina and the FCT.
ECDI provided a 3-member team of highly qualified and resourceful trainers to facilitate the program.
