Quality Teaching: Kaduna SUBEB Trains 6,000 Teachers
By Alex Uangbaoje Kaduna
The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) on Monday commenced a 30-day training of over 6,000 Primary and Junior Secondary School teachers under the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme.
Hajiya Halima Jumare, Director of School Services in the board told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the training was in line with on-going reforms in the state’s basic education.
Jumare said that the training would be conducted in partnership with Universal Basic Education Commission.
According to her, teacher development is key in the state’s ongoing reform to strengthen quality education delivery at basic level.
“You cannot expect quality teaching and learning if you do not have quality teachers; our teachers need to be adequately train to effectively impact knowledge.
She identified the beneficiaries of the training to include care givers in Early Child Care Development Education (ECCDE), and English teachers of junior secondary schools on proficiency in English language.
“Others are primary school teachers also on proficiency in English language to effectively teach pupils how to read and write, using sound (Jolly Phonics).
“Guidance and counselors would also be trained to bridge attitude gaps, as well as Desk Officers, Social Mobilisation Officers and teachers of Integrated Quranic Tsangaya Education (IQTE) on basic education.
“Also to be train are Head Teachers, School Support Officers, Local Government School Improvement Team and Quality Evaluators for effective management of schools, “she added.
Also, the Executive Chairman of the board, Malam Nasiru Umar, equally told NAN that the board would continue to train teachers to bridge knowledge and skill gap in the delivery of quality education.
Umar, however, emphasised that the board would carry out effective monitoring and supervision of teachers to ensure value for the money spent on training.
Hajiya Hauwa Suleiman of Federal College of Education, Zaria, a resource person in one of the training centres, described the training as apt.
According to her, the teachers do not have certificate gap, but skills gap, particularly in modern teaching techniques that emphasised pupils-centred approach to the old teacher-centred approach.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Samuel Augustine of Local Government Education Authority Primary School, Dogon Yaro, Kajuru Local Government Area, thanked the state government for organising the training.
Augustine said that the training would equip them with the needed knowledge and skill to effectively carry out their teaching task.
“I have learned today that the children or pupils should be the centre of my teaching activities and not I the teacher, ” he said.
Another teacher, Hauwa’u Maje, said that she had learned to improvise, using available materials around her as teaching aid and allow the children to take the lead in teaching and learning activities.
