…As SACOED organises educators’ seminar
In a bid to ensure that teachers make meaningful impact in the lives of learners and become more effective in the practice of their profession, a seminar was put together for educators to achieve these aims. The training session organised by St. Augustine College of Education (SACOED), Akoka, Lagos, tagged, “Meeting the learners where they are”, held in the college premises, had in attendance teachers and administrators from various institutions in the state including, nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary.
Speaking on the occasion, Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Olofinkua, convener and Provost, St. Augustine College of Education, said the annual seminars organised by the college is intended to address challenges in the education sector. Fr. Olofinkua said this year’s training seeks to equip tutors on knowledge to teach in the digital age, importance of collaborative work between administrators and teachers for effective running of schools and being abreast with work ethics, to help them become more effective in discharging their duties as educators.
According to the priest, education and technology must be married together in ways that teachers become more effective by using technology that are available to enhance teaching and be abreast with what those they are teaching are familiar with. On achieving the desired result, he said government assistance is needed, however, educators have a lot to do to keep themselves abreast with work ethics and demands of the profession. On young people not having passion for the profession, he said teaching is like a vocation, adding that not every profession is based on financial gain.
He however, said teachers should be rewarded, as he urged them to do their best in ensuring that they attract others to the profession. “I believe that the teaching profession should be more rewarding, but it’s not a crime for teachers to give in their very best to what they are doing.” According to him, “One or two teachers made outstanding impact in our life as we grew up, and we too want to do such to others. But invariably, we are not doing it simply because of the money, but because we know that our role is very, very key to nation development, and growth of the individual person. “There is no nation that grows without ensuring that they have good educators that can help to facilitate the training that the society needs.”
He said though people say teachers’ reward is in heaven, their reward is here on earth, adding that when one sees those who passed through their tutelage excelling in the path they have chosen, it is more or less a consolation and source of pride for the teacher. Papers were presented on Teaching in the digital age, Developing effective collaboration between administrators and teachers in schools and Code of ethics of the teaching profession in Nigeria by Dr. Ebenezer Obideyi; Rev. Sr. Celine Onafowope OSF, Head of Administration and Planning, SACOED and Dr. Sunday Fabode respectively.
