NSF Developments Limited implemented a two-day training of thirty-six Master Trainers in Enugu. The training programme was in fulfillment of the commitment by the Enugu State College of Education Technical (ESCET) and Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) to use evidence in targeting the training needs of participants. Ahead of the training programme, the ENSUBEB in partnership with the ESCET conducted of Teachers Development Needs Assessment (TDNA) of teachers to identify their training needs. The findings revealed that the teachers need to improve their pedagogy and content knowledge.
The two-day training of the Master Trainers took place on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th September 2018 at the ENSUBEB Training hall in Enugu. The main objective was to improve teacher effectiveness in order to improve learning outcomes. The Master Trainers (MTs) were therefore trained on: learner-centered pedagogy, knowledge of 21st Century skills, subject content knowledge for classes 4 and 5 teachers. The Master Trainers were taught how to teach literacy and numeracy, how to carry-out self-development through digital literacy and the use of Open Education Resources (OER). The Master Trainers were also taught how to mentor and support teachers to become more effective and efficient in classroom practice, management and lesson delivery.
Before the training programme, NSF partnered with the Enugu State College of Education Technical (ESCET) conducted a thorough needs assessment of teachers of classes 4 and 5 in the state to ascertain their level of proficiency to teach literacy and numeracy. During the research, six hundred (600) teachers of Primary 4 and 5 were sampled in 36 clusters in all 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) using questionnaires. Based on the results gathered by the assessment, a training program was developed by NSF to train MTs to address the needs of the teachers in the State. ESCET and NSF modeled a learner-centered pedagogy using the inquiry method, problem-solving techniques with participants working on individual tasks, in pairs, and in a group to carry-out activities over the two days. The training utilized three main approaches; assessment of teachers’ needs, face-to-face training on pedagogy and content knowledge, and digital literacy where the Master Trainers were introduced to the use of technology for learning and teaching.
At the commencement of the training on Thursday, 13 September 2018, the facilitators engaged the participants in two sessions (morning and afternoon sessions) where they were introduced to best practices in education. Participants were guided through: how to design and deliver subject content in ways which students with varying learning styles can connect and participate in learning; the need to get immediate feedback; how to access and participate in on-line/virtual class; how to use technology to impart digital
A participant showing low cost teaching aid
At the closing session, participants were coached on the creative approach to developing and adapting learning tools and resources, especially in teaching literacy and numeracy. Facilitators prepared the Master Trainers to use online platforms to perform self-study, providing the trainers with extensive support to ensure that they fully understood the process of navigating the e-learning platforms. This was to prepare them to take on a four-week online training course developed by NSF Developments for the Master Trainers.
During the training, Dr. Chidi Ozochi, the Dean of Education, Enugu State College of Education Technical (ESCET), addressed the participants stating that “The world is going digital, and if we continue to do thing like we have been doing in the past, there is no way we can be bringing up our children to compete maximally with their counterparts worldwide, considering the fact that the world is now a globalized setting.” Also, Mrs. Ugwu Julie, the Director of the Schools Services, ENSUBEB, emphasized the need for the Master Trainers to ensure that teachers have good learner-centered pedagogical skills, good subject content knowledge, and a good attitude to deliver effective teaching and learning. They both encouraged the Master Trainers to focus on 21st-century skills of problem-solving, collaboration, good communication, innovation, and creativity in order to compete.
The Lead Consultant for NSF Developments Limited, Nguyan Feese Ph.D., paid a courtesy to the office of the Executive Chairman, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), accompanied by the Dean of Education, ESCET and the Director of the Schools Services, ENSUBEB to brief the Chairman on the objectives of the training. The Executive Chairman, ENSUBEB Chief Ikeje Asogwa, welcomed them and stated “training is a continuous thing, to update them (participants) on best practices with respect to education”. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the program implemented by NSF and assured his support. At the end of the training, all thirty-six Master Trainers were issued with a certificate of participation.
Executive Chairman, Enugu SUBEB, Chief Ikeje Asogwa flagged by Nguyan Feese Ph.D., Mrs Ugwu Julie, Dr Chidi Ozochi and an ENSUBEB official during the courtesy to the office of the Executive Chairman in Enugu.
A Group Photo of participants with government officials and facilitators at the end of the two-day training
