NO fewer than 155 teachers from public and private schools have benefited from a training by Seedtime Foundation held at Grange School, Ikeja.
For the training, which had as theme: “Developing the whole child”, the teachers had the opportunity to learn about two themes of their choice. The six areas covered were: English and literacy, science, early years, handwriting, numeracy and class display.
Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Adetola Oladeji, said: “The training is to teach them to improvise; to help in writing things the children can remember. So we are teaching them how to be better teachers in the classroom; how to teach engaging and interesting lessons using common available resources and they go back and try whatever they have been taught in class.”
Apart from training teachers, Mrs Oladeji said the Foundation, which is mostly made up of teachers at Grange School, also equips libraries and playgrounds in public schools; provide school uniforms and bags for underprivileged children in public schools.
“What we do is educate the Nigerian child. We have reading clubs where children will just sit in a particular area and read for an hour. We also equipped libraries in public schools- buy furniture, books and decorate the place. We also provide playground equipment and fence it.
“Our target is actually doing something for the public school. We also do kit-a-child project, which we provide school uniform, writing materials so a child feels confident to go to school without worries.
“Basically, we are teachers in private schools working with teachers in public school to help educate the Nigerian child. The target of this training is public school teachers”.
Guest speaker at the event, Mrs Moronke Oshosanya, admonished the teachers to give their best in ensuring that a child is well developed.
Mrs Oshosanya, who is also the Director of Ace Hall Schools, Ikeja, said: “We should develop these children for adulthood, not only focusing on just the child but yourself. What you have you give; and what you don’t have, you can’t give. Let us put our conscience; our wellbeing into helping these children. Do not judge the children based on their parents but deal with them individually”.
She further added that the teachers look beyond academic excellence.
“Academic excellence is important but is not focused on the children’s adulthood; develop the children that are world’s future.
“Settle their emotions first when they get to class, do not judge them, let then explore their interests. Make then leaders in the classroom, give them roles”
She added that spirituality is important as teachers can’t develop students on their own but need God and also teachers should upgrade themselves technologically so as to be able to meet up with the children of this age.
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