The Foundation for Montessori Education in Nigeria (FMEN) launched penultimate weekend in Lagos with a determination to espouse the principles of renowned educationist, Dr Maria Montessori, which, its members believe, will make society a better place.
At the event held at Coral Hall, Victoria Island, Lagos, the leaders of the group shared various ways through which members, mostly Montessori trained teachers or proprietors who run Montessori schools, could impact society.
Apart from supporting Montessori schools in Nigeria, FMEN has lined up programmes in partnership with Association Montessori International (AMI).
Mrs Bimpe Pogoson, Chairman, FMEN, said the Foundation would begin organising training from July ahead of AMI running a training facility in Nigeria.
“We will hold training in July for people who want to learn how to support children aged three to six. Montessori is very rich in academics but what it also does is character development. We hope to ..
Mrs Noyenum Emafo, Secretary of the group, said Foundation was ready to support not so rich private schools practice the Montessori methodology appropriately regardless of their locations. She also spoke of plans to support government within the public education space.
“Being a teacher is being called to service. We can grow Montessori. We see school owner running a Montessori school in Agege without equipment and we laugh. We can back her to practice it the right way. Let us grow Montessori,” she said.
Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance Director-General, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, lamented that many children lacked good education foundation.
Mrs Soyombo, who has been elected life president, underscored the need to focus on creativity, comprehension and writing in the early years.
Speaking about planned outreaches for parents, Mrs Yinka Awobo-Pearse said the foundation’s Aid to Life project which is expected to take off in September, would carry the Montessori message to parents of young children (three years or under), especially mothers who have no caregivers caring for their babies where they are.