SUBEB Begins Pedagogical Training for 1,500 Teachers, Headteachers In Edo

No fewer than 1,446 Secondary School teachers, headteachers and principals across Edo, have begun a pedagogical training ahead of the 20222023 academic session.

The training, organised by the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), is taking place in Benin, with the aimed to effectively close the teacher gap in the junior secondary school system by at least 95 per cent.

Executive Chairman, Edo SUBEB, Ozavize Salami, said the event would also usher 31,963 additional Edo children into a structured methodology of learning through its EdoBEST programme.

He said “as part of the reform, a total of 365 EdoSTAR fellows – teacher volunteers – are also undergoing a 10-day intensive training which will enable participants to deliver impactful lessons to children, using the EdoBEST pedagogy.

According to Salami, who spoke at the opening of the training session on Thursday, the workshop for the teachers, headteachers and principals is a landmark achievement for the board, saying that it is a major step to extend the education reforms of Gov. Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

Salami said all 306 junior secondary schools in the state were now fully incorporated in the technology-based teaching and learning techniques in line with the ongoing disarticulation process of basic education from Secondary Schools.

“Government is the largest provider of basic education service in the state and we are optimistic that our deliberate investment in teachers, through our professional development programmes.

He said this would lead to improvements in the learning outcomes of students in urban, rural and even hard-to-reach areas.

“The mandate is to sustain the gains made so far under the reforms in the basic education sector; we hope to progress with our EdoBEST programme such that it stands as a legacy for the people of Edo even after this administration is long gone.

“Gov. Godwin Obaseki is also committed to closing teacher gaps, especially through the EdoSTAR fellowship programme where 3,000 persons have been employed to fill teaching positions in primary and junior secondary schools across the state.

“These fellows will benefit from the new minimum wage announced by the governor recently,” said the SUBEB boss.

Responding to questions on non-payment of stipends to the EdoSTAR fellows, the chairman affirmed that no fewer than 80 per cent of the fellows had been fully paid their entitlements while others would receive theirs in the coming days.

“In the face of growing calls for prioritisation of teacher professional development across Nigeria, Edo state has been at the forefront of upskilling teachers.

“In the first two quarters of 2022 alone, 2,602 teachers, school leaders, Learning and Development Officers (LDOs) and Quality Assurance Officers (QAO) have been retrained to enable them to deliver on their jobs as educators and managers.

“At the ongoing training, new school and classroom management techniques, modern teaching practices, anti-gender-based violence and child protection strategies as well as other important emerging best practices in school administration are being taught.

“Additionally, sessions are tailored to provide support to teachers in other facets of teaching ranging from interpretation of the curriculum, to understanding the needs of pupils, with a view to motivating them to succeed.

“Because of the strategic role teachers play in the basic education ecosystem, Gov. Obaseki is prioritising teacher professional development as a vehicle for accelerating learning, ” she said.