Training Of Teachers In All States Of Federation Would Continue To Be Facilitated–NIEPA

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The Acting Director-General of National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Nigeria, Ondo, Professor (Mrs) Abiodun Akinsolu, has expressed optimism that training of teachers in all the states of the Federation would continue to be facilitated by the institute for the early childhood education delivery.

Prof. Akinsolu stated this at the opening ceremony of a five day training workshop on Girl Child Education for Head teachers of Public Primary Schools organized by the Institute in Ondo.

According to her, the workshop aimed at enhancing the skills of Caregivers and Head teachers of Public Schools, in order to protect and stimulate learning in children between age Zero and four years in crèche and nursery.

Akinsolu, who described education as a veritable tool for social change, national integration and development said, “the training on ‘Early Child-hood Care Development in Education and Whole School Management, for Head Teachers’, “is borne out of their intricate roles of caregivers and Head Teachers of public schools in the process of integrating the appropriate human and natural resources that are made available and effective for achieving the purpose to meet educational objectives.”

While declaring the workshop open, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Adefulire, lauded NIEPA for its commitment towards empowering the Head Teachers and Caregivers with new skills and knowledge.

The new skills and knowledge according to Princess Adefulire, would enhance the administration of schools, especially on Early Childhood Care Development Education (ECCDE) and Whole School Management (WSM).

Adefulire, who reiterated that the concept of ECCDE is the care, protection stimulation and learning promoted in children in crèche or nursery, also noted that ECCDE was well-embedded in the SDG 4 Target 4.2, which clearly states that member countries must ensure that by 2030, all girls and boys have access to quality Early Childhood Care Development and pre-primary education, so that they are ready for primary education with a view to achieving the SDGs’ objectives of “Leave No One Behind.”

She, therefore, encouraged the participants to work hard to internalize the skills acquired on the training and apply same for development of their schools.

Adefulire also urged relevant stakeholders to come together to support NIEPA to achieve the objectives of SDGs’ capacity building programme on ECCDE/WSM and for the attainment of SDGs in Nigeria by 2030.

Princess Adefulire assured the institute of the agency’s support towards improving the quality of education in the country, saying ” we will live no one behind.”

The content of the workshop/ ECCDE/WSM, include an overview of Early Childhood Development Centre Management in Nigeria; records and records keeping by ECD caregivers ; ECD curriculum with needs and characteristics of young children; concept clarification of whole school development; cultivating a culture of learning and teaching; and the organisational climate and culture in schools.