The need for training and acquiring knowledge in every profession is a point that had been raised over the years. But due to the economic situation in the country, many professionals though understand the need for upgrading their skills, overlook it because they have so many other things to spend their meager resources on.
The need to stay ahead with trends especially in this age of information technology however seems to affect some professions more than others as practitioners grapple with old and obsolete procedures that cannot stand the test of time in today’s global world.
The teaching profession is one of the most affected by this as teachers who are saddled with the responsibility of imparting knowledge have to be a step ahead of trends and keep in tune with latest innovations in order to help their students.
Staying in tune with the trend is however a challenge for many as they do not operate in an optimum level of health nor a conducive environment that encourages acquiring knowledge. And because of the understanding that they need knowledge and skills upgrading but many cannot afford it, many organizations step in to fill the vacuum and augment government’s efforts especially when the teachers are in government employ.
One of such intervention is a training programme organized for teachers by the Loyola College Old Boys Association, Ibadan branch on Thursday, to educate them on the principles of effective teaching and the importance of teaching aids in ensuring optimum communication with their students.
The seminar tagged “Achieving satisfaction in teaching” educated the teachers on the need to be creative and be conversant with developments especially in science so that they can communicate with students in a language they understand so that such students can stand in good stead amidst their peers.
The teachers led by Mr I.A Adejare, principal of Loyola College Senior School and Dr Victoria F. Iyanda, principal of Loyola College Junior School, were taught by experts on topics bordering on their profession as teachers, their health and how to get the best out of their students and acquire job satisfaction as well as optimum level of health.
Dr Adetola Adeyemi from the Department of Guidance and Counseling, University of Ibadan took the lecture on teaching with a positive mind while Dr Adeyoola Olaitan, the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) took the lecture, Creative approach in teaching and learning while Dr Victor Makanjuola, a Consultant Psychiatrist from the University College Hospital took a two-tier lecture that touched on the school health programme and issues of physical, mental and social health with the theme, “The role of teachers in school/student’s health and Teacher’s stress: fix your oxygen mask first.”
Speaking on the reason for the training, Mr Muyiwa Babanumi, the Chairman of the association stated that the Loyola Old Boy’s Association, Ibadan branch, has found out that arresting the decay in the education sector in Oyo state requires a holistic approach as preached by the state government and the process cannot be left only to the government.
“Education in Oyo state requires a holistic approach. The government is doing so much with the Education Trust Fund and the Schools Governing Board. But there is a need for everyone to contribute to ensure that government’s effort yields positive results. And as former students of this school, we are not happy that the glory of our institution seems to be dwindling; Loyola College is one of the best and we want to ensure it retains that position.
“We want the products of this school to be well grounded in all areas so that they can be a pride to the school and the nation and also contribute their quota to the development of this nation and the school. What we are doing is setting a precedent for others to follow so that we will see the institution of our dreams.
“That is the reason we decided to train the trainers because professionalism is core to education. What they have in them determines what they will give the students and also go a long way in the kind of future the students will have. This is a two pronged project; to train the teachers to optimize professionalism and also to give back to our Alma Mata that brought us all to our present position,” Babanumi stated.
The association stated that the programme is a continuous process as it is their dream to continue to support government’s effort in the education sector so that the glory of the state will return.