Rivers releases funds for procurement of instructional materials
THE Rivers State Government has released funds for the procurement and distribution of instructional materials in all post primary schools in the state for the 2009 - 2010 academic session as part of efforts to ensure quality education for all.
The state's Commissioner for Education, Dame Lawrence Nemi who made the disclosure recently, also stated that the gesture was in furtherance of the state government's commitment to the advancement of science and arts education in all secondary schools. She declared that it was government's desire to bring back the lost glory of public schools, by adequately equipping all public schools with teaching aids and facilities that would make teaching and learning worthwhile and enviable for both learners and teachers.
Besides, Nemi revealed that the state government has also released funds for the conduct of promotion exercise for teachers and principals in all public schools in the state.
Meanwhile, the British Council's Country Director, Mr. David Higgs has described the state government's teacher training package as dynamic. Higgs spoke in Port Harcourt while handing over some Cambridge University certificates to Nemi for participants of a six-month capacity development training package for teachers in the state's primary and secondary schools.
According to him, seeing teachers in the state being trained for efficient and effective performance of their duties "elicits deep empathy for the teaching profession." Higgs enjoined all teachers in the state not only to teach everyday, but also to enjoy what they teach, to achieve quality education for all pupils and students. He argued that it was only when they eat, chew, and digest teaching that they could derive maximum benefits from the training.
Higgs, who admitted that he never benefited from the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) training programme, however affirmed that the TKT package was one of the best for professional development of teachers around the world.
Receiving the certificates, Nemi said the state government embarked on the training with Cambridge University to polish teachers in Rivers to becoming world class professional teachers, certificated by a renowned University and to be at par with other colleagues around the world.
She argued that with the provision of infrastructure in the public schools, the state government expects the teachers to perform creditably. With a warning that it would no longer be business as usual, Nemi reiterated that the most critical role model for the pupils and students in the schools were the teachers.
The British Council programme Director Mr. Ben Fisher, explained that the TKT programme was aimed at producing teachers that are trained, respected and rewarded. According to him, the TKT essentials, is a new English teaching course that helps to improve the knowledge and skills of primary and secondary English teachers, thus boosting classroom confidence and even opening doors to lucrative job prospects. The features include: interactive approach, student-centered application, self-motivation for teachers and development of interesting lessons. Others are classroom management, learner analysis, and preparing teachers for the three modules.
