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Tag: teachers

  • Teachers, pupils get SUBEB awards

    Teachers, pupils get SUBEB awards

    The head teacher of St George’s Primary School Falomo Ikoyi, Mr Odutola Ambali has emerged the Best head teacher in public primary schools in Lagos State.

    Ambali’s victory followed an evaluation interviews and examinations conducted by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) where the teacher dwarfed his contemporaries.

    SUBEB also saw the leadership role in Ambali’s coordination and interface with teachers in his school.

    Ambali was not the only awardee. Odebiyi Adenike of Wesley Memorial Primary School won the ‘best assistant headteacher’; Ganiyu Alawiye from Our Lady of Fatimo Primary School clinched the ‘best teacher’ award. Odunisi Adebowale of the Salvation Army Primary School won the ‘best non-teaching staff’. The duo of Aminu Rahimat from AUD, and Daniel Olanrewaju of Atunda Olu won ‘the best pupil’ and the ‘best special pupil’.

    Christ Assembly Primary School claimed the ‘best overall primary school; while ‘Modupe Cole Home School won the ‘best overall special school’. Interestingly, Ifako-ijaiye won the ‘best LGEA’ among many other awards.

    Beaming with joy Ambali thanked the state government for supporting schools with infrastructure and teachers motivation to work.

    “I am highly elated for been recognised, honoured among so many,” he said.

    Speaking at the event held at SUBEB hall, the board’s chairman Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, said the award was targeted at towards “rewarding and appreciating our workforce both in the classroom and outside.”

    Congratulating the awardees, Mrs Daodu said their exceptional performances clearly distinguished them as the best among the rest, rare breed and uncommon staff.

    “I am imploring you to strive hard to remain champions. You must not allow others to dethrone you. Today is your day, it is specially set aside to say thank you for jobs well done,” she told the awardees.

    She added that the board’s aim to ensure that the welfare of both teaching and non-teaching staff were given priority, adding that the board would also articulate policies that would enhance teacher welfare and productivity, create right work-culture and encouraging staff support for optimal performance and merit based award.

     

  • ‘Teachers crucial to transformation agenda’

    •King’s College rewards teachers

    Without teachers playing their roles appropriately in a vibrant education sector, President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda cannot be fulfilled, says Prof Vincent Tenebe, Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

    Addressing the topic The role of teachers in Nigeria’s Transformation Agenda, at the World Teachers Day of King’s College, Lagos, Tenebe, the guest lecturer, said education is at the core of any development.

    The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by Prof Alphonso Ikeotuonye, explained that the teacher’s role in manpower development means that they influence the abilities of Nigerians to effectively fulfil the transformation agenda which traverses various areas of national live including politics, economy, power, energy, transportation, industry, agriculture, employment and labour, and socio-education at both the macro and micro levels.

    He said: “The Transformation Agenda is an omnibus development plan aimed at giving Nigeria and Nigerians new life. The teachers’ role in it both at macro and micro levels is very crucial. Teachers are directly responsible for producing competent manpower that man all the sectors of our national life, particularly the economy. Teachers can make or mar the nation’s education system. Without teachers, the restoration of excellence in education remains a dream. Without teachers, the future generation of Nigerians who are expected to consolidate and sustain the gains of the agenda will not be able to do so.”

    Underscoring the importance of teachers to the polity, the King’s College Principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju, lamented that teachers are under appreciated. He said the need to appreciate them was the reason he initiated a reward programme to commemorate the World Teachers Day three years ago.

    He urged the government to appropriately reward teachers at the secondary education level who hardly go on strike.

    “Government is focusing more on tertiary education.The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will go on strike but teachers do not go on strike. We need more encouragement from the government. We don’t have to go on strike before government should remember us,” he said.

    During the event, present and past teachers who had put in hard work, commitment and long years to groom the pupils the 104-year-old school were presented with such gifts such as refrigerators, flat screen televisions, water dispensers and generators.

    Some industrious teachers got more than one award in the 10 categories rewarded.

    Chairman of the KC Parent/Teacher Association (PTA), Mr Emmanuel Oriakhi, said the parents sponsored a category of the awards to appreciate the teachers for sustaining academic excellence in the college.

    “We want to reward our teachers who are responsible for the academic excellence of pupils of the college,” he said.

    Dr Olusegun Akinfoyewa, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the PTA teachers’ award, said the was painstaking, involving the parents, teachers, pupils and prefects of the school.

    The PTA rewarded the best Teacher, Mr J. A. Atoyebi, with a laptop, printer and N50,000 prize.

    The event also featured health screening, drama and match past by the teachers.

  • Teachers suspend strike

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Cross River State yesterday suspended its strike over the non-implementation of the 27.5 per cent Teachers Specific Allowance (TSA) by the government.

    A statement signed by the union’s Chairman, Comrade Eyo Nsa Itam and Secretary, Comrade Livinus Omini, said following the resumption of the strike for the implementation of the TSA on September 9, the state government constituted a team to engage the union on the matter and other issues raised during the deliberations.

    It said after series of meetings, the union agreed as follows to accept the appeal from government to implement 16.22 per cent of the basic current salary as TSA for the time being with effect from October.

  • 20 ghost teachers uncovered in Edo

    OVER 20 dead teachers that are still in the pay roll of the government were yesterday uncovered by the chairman of Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo, Barr. Lucy Omagbon.

    Omagbon also uncovered a school were four teachers have been fraudulently receiving salaries with no pupils to teach.

    The council boss made the discovery during her physical ongoing verification of primary schools in the council area.

    She had lamented that the teachers’ salaries took more than 70 percent of the federal allocation accruing to the council.

    The council boss said this development had made it impossible for the council to execute developmental projects that would be beneficial to the people of the area.

    The council boss said this discovery was not only shocking to her but embarrassing.

    “What we discovered in this school (Obasoyen Primary School) at Ekiadolor area of the council is shocking. As you can see, this school is completely empty. We don’t have pupils here but we have four teachers who are probably going about their daily private businesses while public fund is being expended on these teachers,” she lamented.

    Expatiating, she said: “They know they don’t have pupils and more so that the environment is not conducive learning but hide under the guise of teaching when they know they don’t have pupils to teach. The supposedly head master of the school has turned one of the classroom to a place of worship. You can see choir band, pulpit, bands and chairs they use for their worship. This is a teacher, and he knows what the finance of the local government and we have a level 13, 12, 7 and 4 receiving money they don’t deserve. This is all too shocking.”

     

     

     

     

  • Firm retools private school teachers

    Firm retools private school teachers

    Private school teachers from Lagos and environs spent this year’s World Teachers’ Day retooling to enhance their delivery in the classroom.

    A seminar by the Standard Mandate International (SMI), a firm that focuses on training and school improvement, held at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), exposed them to new reasoning in the area of critical thinking and how to employ it in the classroom.

    In line with the theme: Fostering critical thinking in the classroom, Mr Nelson Ayodele, SMI Chief Executive Officer and other seasoned educationists such as Mrs Bisi Arogunmati, proprietor of Diamond Private School, Victoria Island and Mrs Olabisi Olateru, enlightened the teachers, some of who came all the way from schools in Ogun and Oyo states, about tips and strategies to employ to improve performance of the pupils.

    Underscoring the importance of critical thinking in today’s learning environment, Ayodele said it is no longer enough for pupils to regurgitate what they are taught but be able to apply them to new situations through critical thinking.

    To enhance their pupils’ critical thinking skills, Mr Ayodele told the teachers to introduce classroom activities that will improve their speaking, writing, thinking, listening and reading skills.

    Teach students how to assess their speaking, reading, thinking an dlistening skills. Make the course more work intensive for students and not for you; develop syllabus that highlight your expectations for students,” he said among many other tips.

    On her part, Mrs Olateru said the teachers should hone their critical thinking skills by exploring the internet for relevant and in depth information on whatever topic they are treating.

    “When you go on the Internet, you learn more and gain from critical thinking. This is the time we need to add value to ourselves,” he said.

    During her presentation, Mrs Arogunmati counselled teachers not to treat any learner as inferior but encourage them to excel.

    “Don’t give up on that stupid, stubborn, restless child because God made him pass through you for a purpose. It takes a lot of patience, grace and commitment to help them. We should also encourage children to think trough. It is your duty as a teacher to break down the whims for the children to understand so that they will not have to derail,” she said.

    In interviews with The Nation, some of the participants said what they learnt would transform their teaching skills.

    Principal, Home Science Association Secondary School, Alakuko, Mr John Olokose, said the programme was impactful.

    “Thank God for the impact of SMI. Teachers are now aware of modern trends in education. Today, we have been put through critical thinking. It has opened my eyes to new things,” he added.

    Another teacher, who teaches at Epic International School, Ijebu Ode, Mrs. Omodolapo Alademo said the symposium will help build teachers’ minds for the benefit of the pupils.

     

  • Technical training for teachers

    Technical training for teachers

    Ten technical teachers drawn from the three Lagos technical schools – Agidingbi, Ikorodu and Ikotun that specialise in refrigerator and air-conditioning repairs, have concluded their training. The two-week exercise is meant to empower them on how modern air conditions and refrigerators can be fixed. Aside, the teachers are expected to transfer the knowledge to their students who are being targeted by the Lagos State government to embark on aggressive entrepreneurship skills towards boosting the SMEs in the state.

    The training which was handled by DEKOOLAR Nigeria Limited, Arepo, Ogun State, was sponsored by the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).

    And for the trainees, the experience was a departure from the conventional theoretical norm they were long exposed to.

    Mr Afolabi Kolawole who spoke on behalf of other trainees said that the exercise exposed them to new methods such of fixing modern air conditioning and refrigerators.

    “We are really having a unique experience here,” Afolabi told Newsextra.

    “Aside, we also learned new things that we did not anticipate would be part of the training; like we had a welding plant in our school which we rarely touch because we’d always believed they are meant for welders. But here, we were taught how we can always integrate welding into our work and all of us can now handle welding equipment effectively. Before, we did not know how to construct cold room cabinet. Whenever we wanted to make a cold room, we would go to Owode Onirin to buy a cabinet, and then construct the cold room. But here, we were taught how the cabinet is made through the mixing of two chemicals in equal proportion that would produce the cabinet substance.”

    On his visit to the trainees, LASTVEB Executive Secretary, Mr Olawunmi Gasper, admonished them to leverage on the knowledge acquired and network among themselves for further acquisition of knowledge.

    “LASTVEB decided to bring you here for this rigorous exercise so that you can learn from the nitty-gritty and therefore impact same on your students.

    “I will also advise you not to allow your knowledge end here but to henceforth network among yourselves so you all can address any challenges that affect you individually”, Gasper, an engineer, advised.

    The CEO Dekoolar Nigeria Limited, Mr J Ola Akanbi, also an engineer, certified the trainees, saying they are more experienced and capable of scaling any hurdle.

  • Obi gives teachers two buses

    Governor Peter Obi has presented two new buses to teachers.

    He made the presentation at a ceremony to mark the 2013 World Teachers’ Day in Awka.

    According to him, one of the buses was for the All Nigeria Confederation of Principal of Secondary Schools, while the other was for the Association of Head Teachers of Nigeria.

    The governor promised to provide the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) a new bus within two week.

    The National Vice- President of the NUT, Comrade Ekisah Godbless, hailed Governor Obi’s humility and simplicity as well as his achievements, especially in the education sector.

    The governor yesterday granted amnesty to 15 convicts as part of the activities to mark the 53rd independence anniversary.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Mike Udah, said the beneficiaries were serving terms in Awka, Onitsha and Enugu prisons.

    The statement reads: “Five of them, who were granted amnesty, came from Awka Prison. They are: Tochukwu Anene, Okoye Agbata, Titus Iloba and Onyeka Osuani.

  • Fayemi commends teachers for WAEC performance

    Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has commended teachers in the state for their role in the improvement in the West African Examination (WAEC) results of students in 2013.

    He spoke yesterday in Christ School, Ado Ekiti at the World Teachers’ Day celebrations.

    According to the governor, the support of teachers was primarily responsible for students’ performance despite the renovation of the entire 180 secondary schools in the state and the laptop per student programme.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Modupe Adelabu, disclosed the state recorded 52 % minimum pass in this year’s West African Examination Ccouncil (WAEC) results contrary to 20% in last year’s.

    Fayemi, who presented four brand new cars to best teachers in primary and secondary schools, assured that his administration will sustain the mutual love and understanding with teachers and other workers.

    The four teachers are Mr. Aniyikaye Daniel, C.A.C Ara Ijero primary school, Ara-Ijero, who was adjudged the best primary school teacher and Mr. Omole Sylvester, Corpus Christi, Ilawe-Ekiti.

    Others are best primary school administrator, Mrs. Ibinuwa Yemisi of St. Luke Anglican Primary School, Ikun-Araromi and best secondary school administrator, Mrs. Fatuase Titiloye of Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti.

    The commissioner for Education, Mr. Kehinde Ojo urged the teachers to uphold professionalism, adding that they also should strive to sustain the pace of development of education in the state.

    The chairmen of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools(ASUSS), Comrade Sola Adigun and his counterpart in the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Samuel Akosile, demanded the payment of full implementation of the 27.5% Teachers Peculiar Allowance in the state.

    They also commended the administration for implementing 16% of the Special Allowance, saying the gesture has further aided mutual understanding between government and workers.

     

  • Council trains 250 teachers

    Council trains 250 teachers

    To improve teachers’ skills and education standard, the Chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, Dr Oloruntoba Oke has trained 250 primary schools and junior secondary school teachers of public schools in the council.

    The training, which was coordinated with Educational Solution and Services Consulting Limited (ESS Consulting), exposed the teachers to new technologies for teaching.

    Oke said the aim of the training was to acquaint the teachers with the latest trends in the world and to enable them to pass same effectively across to their learners.

    “I wish to congratulate you the participants for taking the advantage of this rare opportunity to develop yourselves in your chosen career. Knowledge is infinitum, and the only way to keep in touch with the dynamics of acquiring knowledge is through training and retraining on the job for higher effectiveness and efficiency,” he said.

    Oke said the seminar with theme: Modern teaching skills and teachings techniques in the child development, is part of efforts by the council to improve the educational standard of the council.

    Underscoring the importance of the training, the Managing Partner of ESS Consulting, Mr Nwagala Pedro said it should positively influence the teachers’ attitudes in the classroom

    “We are in partnership with people who are interested in the development of education and we are happy that Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government is interested in education development and that is why we have partnered with them. It is to bring a different attitude and approach to teaching in the country,” he said.

  • Ahmed gives N3b car loans to teachers, civil servants

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday disbursed car loans worth N3 billion to teachers and civil servants.

    The governor also inaugurated an ultra-modern press centre for the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin.

    Presenting the car loans to the beneficiaries, the governor said it was “another opportunity to demonstrate this administration’s long-standing commitment to improving the welfare of civil servants across the state, including secondary and primary school teachers.”

    According to him, civil servants are the foot soldiers of good governance and those who work silently to ensure that government’s vision for the uncommon development of Kwara State comes to fruition.

    Ahmed said: “We accord the welfare of civil servants the highest priority as demonstrated by the payment of salaries and especially by today’s launch of N3 billion vehicle loans to civil servants.

    “This government approved the renovation of offices in the ministries of Health, Commerce and the Local Government Service Commission. Also put in place are welfare policies and programmes, such as training and retraining of workers for better performance, employment opportunities for the youth through KWABES, approval of the sale of government quarters to sitting civil servants and the recent negotiation with estate developers to provide houses at affordable rates to workers.

    Inaugurating the NUJ press centre, he said: “The truth is, many laudable government initiatives will fail without appropriate advocacy through the media. The media also has the capacity to promote transparency through its surveillance function, while also setting an agenda for good governance.”