Determined to improve the teaching and learning environment, the Lagos State Government has stated its intention to introduce technology to assist teachers discharge their responsibilities in the classroom in line with modern teaching practices.
Speaking at the Eko EXCEL Stakeholders Forum held today at Ikeja, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat noted that the training of the teachers is a critical item in the realization of goal of building an education system relevant to 21st century.
The Eko EXCEL is the education transformation programme of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration aim at repositioning basic education in the state by enhancing teachers’ effectiveness through leveraging technology to support, train, empower and motivate teachers to improve children’s learning outcome at the primary schools level.
Noting that the emphasis on training all children in Lagos State is to guarantee “our collective future”, Dr. Hamzat expressed the desire for the parents too to actively engage in the process of educating the children.
He further noted that education and technology is important to the Sanwo-Olu Administration as such it is taking a holistic budgetary view of allocation to education in which part of other sectors’ allocation is equally tilted towards education. The calculation of sectorial allocation focusing on specific figure of education is not taking cognizance of the overall pictures, he said.
Saying that education at the primary school level is the bedrock of national development, the Deputy Governor urged teachers to embrace the new initiative and ensure the benefits are reaped as the administration is committed to making sure that teachers in the state are well trained and equipped to teach the children well.
He said the exercise, which had been tried in Edo witnessed a 27% increase in public school enrollment in the state. He added that the same result is expected in Lagos.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo disclosed that the Eko EXCEL project is a state government designed and funded initiative to drive excellence in learning for about 500,000 pupils across 1,016 public primary schools.
She added that a total of 4,000 teachers in 300 schools across all the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in the state will be trained in the first phase of the programme which will commence in December this year.
The Commissioner noted that as the state aspires to be a 21st century economy and maintain its position as a leading economy in Africa, a critical investment in basic education is required to build the quality work force needed for the future.
According to her, “Most importantly, Lagos, like other cities, is unequivocal in its commitment to equity, closing the gap between the rich and the poor by ensuring access to quality education for all children.”
In his welcome address, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King stated that the Eko EXCEL which acronym connotes Excellence in Child Education and Learning is an initiative of the present administration aimed at reforming the state educational system by deploying technology for effective classroom management and optimum performance for teachers and pupils.
He added that, through the Eko EXCEL model, teachers in the state would be able to deliver standardized learning to pupils in pubic primary schools in line with global standards and hope to remove educational boundaries, in which both pupils and teachers can collaborate in real time using advanced educational technology.
Saying ‘Teachers are at the heart of successful learning”, the SUBEB boss emphasized that the starting point for improved outcome for pupils in schools is the continuous improvement of teaching practices, leadership practices and organizational practices.
He emphasized that it is important that all key into the initiative to discover the strengths and opportunities that are inherent in deploying modern techniques and new technologies to boost learning outcomes, saying, “Technology has become an essential part of our lives”.
“I therefore use this medium to seek your support and collaboration for the effective realization of the objectives of the programme.”he concluded.
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