Happy World Teachers’ Day

The 2020 World Teachers’ Day provides the opportunity to celebrate teachers with the theme “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future”.

The day provides the occasion to celebrate teachers, facilitators, instructors and the teaching profession worldwide. It allows us to take stock of achievements, and draw attention to the voices of teachers, who are at the heart of efforts to attain the global education target of leaving no one behind.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly added to the challenges faced by already over-extended education systems throughout the world. It is no exaggeration to say that the world is at a crossroads and, now more than ever, we must work with teachers to protect the right to education and guide it into the unfolding landscape brought about by the pandemic.

The issue of teacher leadership in relation to crisis responses is not just timely, but critical in terms of the contributions teachers have made to provide remote learning, support vulnerable populations, re-open schools, and ensure that learning gaps have been mitigated.

We need to recognize the role played by teachers in building resilience and shaping the future of education and the teaching profession.

Let us look at some specific examples of how teachers are supporting Children in Need in different circumstances.

Borno state is ravaged with conflicts and insurgency that disrupted education, children were displaced and schools destroyed. Some children found their way into Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps where Temporary Learning Centres ( TLS) were provided. In 2019, Initiative for Education and Development (IDEE)- a Non -Governmental Organization working with state and non- state stakeholders started innovating an Education in Emergency ( EiE) programme in some IDP camps targeting girls.

In March 2020, then comes the COVID-19 with further restrictions and school closure. IDEE then started a Blended learning approach combining remote learning, Last Mile Learning (LML) and Read Aloud Programme (RAP).

In these camps. Learning facilitators such as Mallam Baba Gana Kasama and colleagues have shown, as they have done so often, great leadership and innovation in ensuring that the #LastMileLearning, #ReadAloudProgramme guarantee that #LearningNeverStops, that no learner is left behind in the IDP camps, they have worked individually and collectively to find solutions and create new learning environments for their students to keep learning.

Mr Abass with his students

On World Teachers’ Day, we congratulate Mallam Baba Gana Kasama and volunteer teachers/facilitators in Borno State. Please join us to congratulate Mallam Baba Gana Kasama and other great teachers supporting Learners in Need (NID)

Mrs Cariyat Olorunfemi is one of the few female teachers in the sciences. She is a facilitator of Making Future Female Scientist ( MFFS) programme. Mrs Olorunfemi support children in hard to reach slum communities of FCT Abuja to access quality education during the 7 months school closure as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. She is using both remote learning and home visit approaches to ensure they keep learning.

In Ogun State, while other teachers are looking for employment opportunities in the cities and urban communities. Mr Tunde Osundina agreed to teach in riverine community of Ogun Waterside LGA. He is supporting children professionally and preparing them for brighter future.

During the COVID-19 school closure, Mr Osundina developed innovative blended teaching approaches using WhatsApp platform to reach children in the community and beyond remotely. He is also supporting awareness and risk communication for both children and parents.

Mr Osundina is currently training other teachers on how to prepare children for a ‘new normal school situation’.

Stakeholders in the education sector need to work with Government to do more for teachers.

1. Review the National Teachers’ Policy to reflect current realities.

2. Improve the pre-service and in-service capacity development activities for teachers including those in private schools.

3. Develop incentives that will make the teaching profession more attractive to young people.

4. Improve support for Education in Emergencies, develop preparedness strategies and teachers capacity torespond to crisis such as pandemics.

Mr Abass in another academic engagement with his students

5. Improve capacities for education technology in schools and digital skills development for teachers.

6. Foster more relationships and collaboration between teachers, parents, civil societies and the private sector.

7. Promote gender equality and inclusion in the teaching sub-sector.

8. Improve the Education Management Information System ( EMIS) to capture the profile of all teachers ( including those in private schools) for strategic decision making purposes.

This is a guest post contribution by Kabiru Abass.

Abass writes from Maiduguri, Nigeria. He is a Humanitarian- Development- Peace Building Consultant.

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