Last Saturday was learning and rewards day for public school teachers in Lagos State as the Chairos Foundation held its sixth Teachers’ Conference at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.
Hundreds of teachers learnt from experts in education and other fields who made presentations on various topics including: “Curriculum Developers: A compliment to nation building”, “Global Etiquettes: Necessity for teachers”, “The teacher’s health with respect to work-life balance” among others.
The first paper on “Building Structure and bridging the gap between the school and the home” underscored the need for the schools and homes to be partners in progress.
Its presenter, Tochi Opara said: “There must be cooperation between the school system and the home that is devoid of competition and power play. Parents should not berate the teachers in the presence of their children.
On his part, Mr. Ayokunle Fagbemi, Executive Director, Centre for Peacebuilding and Socio-Economic Resources Development (CePSERD), said it was necessary for teachers to understand child psychology. If they do, he explained that they would have better relationship with the pupils in their care.
To get the attention of their learners and ensure they are learning well, Fagbemi told the teachers to learn to listen, ask questions in ways that reflect what the pupils have learnt. For instance, asking open-ended and probing questions would help pupils think and talk more about what they learn.
Underscoring the need for teachers to develop new skills as they progress in their careers, Mr. Ferguson Uzomah, Project Manager, QPMC Abuja, said doing so would prepare them for future opportunities.
“There is need to move from learning to professional development. The time for change has come. There should competition even among the teachers which will be of benefit to them in future,” he said.
In her etiquette paper, Mrs Ada Osuagwu, advised teachers to ensure that their interactions leave others with their self-esteem intact.
To this end, she counseled the teachers to learn to speak softly and politely, respect people’s personal space, ensure written communication is devoid of errors, and communicate in languages acceptable to whoever they seek to communicate with.
In an interview, Mrs Boumo’a Sagay, the Executive Secretary, Charios Foundation, said the conference was one of the Foundation’s programme to enhance Nigeria’s cultural heritage. She added that the programme was a capacity development opportunity for public school teachers who may otherwise have been unable to afford it.
“We want a situation where we adopt what is obtainable abroad. Abroad teachers have one development every term. But we noticed that here it is an elitist thing. We want to make it available for every teacher. For the foundation if all that is discussed here is followed up effectively in the school, then we have promoted the Nigerian cultural heritage,” she stressed
Awards were presented to teachers who distinguished themselves in their subject areas.
Mrs Olufunmilayo Odeleye of Education District IV, nominated in the Art Category, won the grand prize of a return ticket to the United Kingdom on British Airways. For placing second, vocational teacher, Onojade Oghenenowho, also of District IV, won a trophy in addition to a prize for fortitude and strength; while Hakeem Olanrewaju, who came third, also got a trophy and a prize for Innovation.
Other nominees were presented with medals of honour.
