Capacity Building Programme For STEM Teachers Begins In Lagos State 

 

No fewer than 60 newly employed STEM Teachers in Lagos State Education District VI are participating in a 3-day capacity building programme, to harness their skills in the profession.

The Convener of the event and a Civil servant, Mrs Adeola Akinsulure, lauded participants for keying into the exercise to unlearn and relearn.

She said the programme was organised to help STEM teachers improve their skills and become better in their areas of specialisation.

According to her, the event was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.

She recalled how she got the grant from the US to convene the programme saying; “In October 2022, I applied as an alumnus of the United States exchange programme for the Global Teacher Grants aimed at supporting education-based projects which had 3 persons from Nigeria, one from the North, one from the South, and one from the West. The one from the West is this project. It was selected as one of the 55 winning projects across 29 countries.”

Mrs Akinsulure reiterated the relevance of education in national development which she said cannot be over-emphasized.

She said; “this programme is put together to enhance the professional development of newly employed STEM teachers and equip them with practical tools, innovative teaching strategies, necessary skills, and knowledge needed to excel in teaching STEM subjects and provide a supportive network of fellow educators.”

Speaking further, the education expert said
the programme would also expose participants to 21st-century skills necessary to facilitate STEM lessons.

As part of efforts to build resilience and productivity, participants will be trained on innovative concepts to promote teaching controversial STEM topics.

Additionally, the training will enable teachers to access free educational resources online and leverage technology to stimulate students’ interest and participation in STEM innovations and inventions both locally and globally.

The 3-day event is expected to have further participants engage one another in different sessions, with hands-on activities which will be led by local and international STEM volunteers who are experts from within and outside Nigeria to promote STEM Education.

The workshop is expected to propel participants to develop a Science Class Improvement Plan (SCIP), bringing to the knowledge acquired during the training in their respective schools.

At the end of the course, participants will be evaluated and the top 3 participants will be rewarded with cash gifts of #20,000, #15,000 and #10,000 respectively.

Three other participants with outstanding performances will also be rewarded with cash gifts of #5,000 each.

Reiterating her commitment towards this laudable achievement, she said would also be a launch of a Professional community called the STEM COLLABORATORS which would be saddled with the responsibility of creating mentorship, providing networking opportunities for all participants and free online Webinars to help improve skill development.

The Chairman Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Lagos state chapter, Mr Hassan Akintoye urged the participants to collaborate rather than compete with one another to excel in their careers.
He said; “Adeola has impacted lives with this project which you have all benefited from.

“I expect that you should impact lives as change agents that must further shine the light for others to see through.”

He pledged the commitment of the NUT to always put teachers first in whatever the Union does.

Dr. Shareefah Yusuf the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary of Education District VI who was on a state official assignment sent her representative Mrs Obajemu Abiodun.

She lauded the event and commended the Convener for the giant strides recorded.

The high point of the event was the presentation of Awards to outstanding personalities in the Lagos State Education Sector.

The event was graced by personalities from all walks of life and several retired teachers in Lagos State including the father of the convener, Mr Austen Taiwo Oduloye, Mrs Ayo Vaughan of the Learning & Development Unit of Education District VI.

Others were Jide and Dare Olayemi of Project+ Potential, Gender Advocate and Rights Activist, Mrs Folake Kuti, Gbagba of NUT Ikeja Zone and Mrs Akande G.A, retired Principal among others.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere