A lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences Education at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr. Taiwo Yusuf, has called on her colleagues to assume the role of counsellors in addressing the psychological and emotional needs of students.
She made this appeal during her presentation at the university’s 271st Inaugural Lecture titled: “Navigating the Nexus of Teacher Education, Curriculum Development, and Social Studies.”
Dr. Yusuf emphasized that this approach could significantly enhance students’ academic performance by addressing underlying emotional challenges.
“As Social Studies teachers, they can help students comprehend how to discuss social issues, interact better, and employ emotional intelligence in all their dealings,” she noted.
Dr. Yusuf highlighted the importance of incorporating emotional intelligence training into teacher education. She stressed that equipping prospective teachers with skills to regulate their emotions and foster healthy relationships with students is vital for creating an effective learning environment.
In her lecture, Dr. Yusuf also examined the impact of school factors such as class size, teacher workload, and qualifications on students’ performance in examinations.
“These schools and teachers’ variables were related to classroom teaching and the extent each of these variables impacted learners. The results indicated these variables, such as class size, teacher workload, and qualifications, influenced the performance of students in their examinations,” she explained.
She recommended a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:35 to optimize classroom interactions and improve academic outcomes.
Dr. Yusuf called for the federal government to integrate ICT training into Nigeria’s pre-service teacher education programmes. She argued that preparing future teachers to effectively utilize technology in classrooms is critical to advancing education in the country.
“There is a need to provide schools with adequate ICT resources, including internet facilities and digital resources so that teachers can integrate them in their instructions,” she said.
She further emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in teacher education and community development, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
