Lagos begins digital training for teachers | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
7th May 2020
The Lagos State Government has commenced its planned digital skills training for post-primary school teachers.
It has also set up a support team of technology professionals to support the teaching workforce in its Education Transformation Agenda.
This is spearheaded by Microsoft through ATB Techsoft Solutions Limited.
The first segment of the training is targeted at teachers on Grade levels 8 to 13.
Speaking in a Virtual Meeting on the Microsoft Team platform to flag off the free Orientation Programme for the teachers in Online Digital Training, the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, Mrs Olabisi Ariyo, observed that the training is part of the conscious efforts of the Commission at transforming the Post-Primary Teaching Service into a Digital-Smart Workforce.
“Since it is generally accepted that no educational system can rise above the standard of its teachers, the Commission is totally committed to addressing the digital inadequacies of our teachers who are critical to the realisation of this administration’s THEMES Agenda,” she enthused.
Mrs Ariyo, while appreciating the management of the Support Teams, for offering to equip teachers with digital knowledge aimed at serving as game changer in the teaching and learning processes in our schools, maintained that, on completion, teachers would have been trained Online in consonance with today’s realities, adding that there is a “new normal” and it becomes imperative for every teacher in this category to participate wholeheartedly in the training.
Speaking earlier, the Country Manager, Microsoft, Mr Akin Banuso, opined that the most important profession is the teaching profession, and as such, empowering teachers to achieve this onerous goal is a conscious innovative opportunity at improving them and ultimately, the students.
In his words, “we are here to support you. I want to encourage you to participate fully in the Programme. The journey and the experiences are all for you. Please, take them seriously”.
Applauding the Lagos State Government on pioneering this training and considering every teacher as “an ambassador” of the State, the CEO, ATB Techsoft Solutions Limited, Mr Abiodun Atobatele, noted that without education, the future remains uncertain and in ensuring certainty of the future, the most important stakeholders are the teachers.
According to him, “we have opened several channels for you to follow and be abreast of the training. Send your details and you will be allocated a group in our different channels through your activity application and you must take time to read through the guidelines”.
The Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission, Mrs Toyin Awoseyi, lauded the concerted efforts of the Support Team and particularly, that of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for bringing Lagos State Post-Primary teachers on board as Innovative Educators.
She urged teachers to take the Programme very serious and put in their best because COVID-19 pandemic has initiated a “new normal” in the sector, which we must all braze up with.
She disclosed that participants, on completion of the training programme, will be certified internationally by the organisers. She encouraged teachers to embrace the online training and put in their best for their career and personal development.