As part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme for its staff, the Ministry of Defence engaged NSF Developments Limited to train twenty-five Education Officers in Lagos from the 2nd to 4th July 2019. The purpose of the training was to equip the Education Officers with the 21st Century school leadership skills, subject content knowledge and attitude to prepare future leaders.
In addition to the leadership skills, the training equipped the Education Officers under the Ministry of Defence with 21st Century skills and subject content knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM Education).. This was to enable the Education Officers to 1) develop good school leadership and management skills; 2) apply STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Education approach to teachers in their schools; 3) utilize technology for teaching and learning in their schools; and 4) apply Project-Based Learning (PBL) to delivering school curriculum.
Participants included: Principals; Headteachers; Teachers; representatives of the Ministry of Defence; and the representative of Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
The three-day training focused on three topics specifically: school leadership and school improvement, developing 21st Century skills and knowledge through the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) concepts with primary school curriculum, and improving digital literacy in education delivery.
Participants received training in sessions (morning and afternoon sessions), they were engaged in lectures, discussions and practical exercises through the 3-day training programme. The participants were reminded of the important role of teachers as supervisors, mentors, motivators, facilitators of learning and leaders.
NSF Facilitator coaching participants during plenary
The facilitators highlighted the important part that teachers play in molding the future generation, not just in terms of literacy but also in values, attitudes, skills, and knowledge. They also stressed that the world was changing and that education managers, teachers and students need to be prepared to function in the changing world. The facilitators added that the 21st-century world of work requires people who can solve problems and be creative. In order to drive home and better explain the concepts, the facilitators provided the trainees with opportunities to implement projects as practical lessons in STEAM Education and the use of technology in education.
Participants were introduced to digital literacy, its benefits and creative ways to embed the subject in teaching and learning. The hands-on activities afforded the Education Officers the opportunity to learn how to conduct research on the Internet and carry out self-study using Open Education Resources (OER).
At the end of the training programme, participants expressed their appreciation to NSF Developments Limited for the good facilitation and appropriate training content. They requested for additional training opportunities and support to enable them understand the STEAM Education approach in order to be more effective teachers. NSF Developments Limited advised the Education Secretaries that teachers are facilitators of learning and should be supported to effective and train learners to become critical thinkers, good communicators, to collaborate, innovate and become problem solvers. These are the skills of the future and teachers should support learners to prepare for the world of tomorrow although tomorrow is already here.
Group photograph with the facilitators and participants at the training program
