FCTA, BRITISH COUNCIL LAUNCH STRIDE TRAINING FOR SCIENCE AND TECH TEACHERS
By: Hauwa Mahmud Madugu
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in partnership with the British Council, has commenced the STRIDE (Stimulating Teacher Resourcefulness in Digital Education) Training Programme for teachers in the FCT Science and Technology Schools, as part of efforts to strengthen teaching capacity and promote digital innovation.
The STRIDE opening ceremony brought together key stakeholders in the education sector with the aim of improving teaching and learning outcomes in schools across the Federal Capital Territory.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Mrs. Joy Chinwe Okeke declared the workshop open and reiterated the Administration’s commitment to strengthening teacher capacity and improving the quality of education in the territory.
The Minister emphasized that teachers remain central to the success of education and appreciated the British Council for stepping in to train FCT Science and Technology teachers.
“The STRIDE programme is a strategic initiative designed to equip teachers with relevant digital skills and modern pedagogical approaches, and it is expected that this training will enhance our teachers’ performance.
“The aim is to impact the teachers, and this will be evident as they go back to the classroom to impact the knowledge on our students so they can become better citizens of the country tomorrow.”
Also, speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, who was represented at the event by Dr. Olubanke Folake Olatunji-David, Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, commended the partnership between the FCT Administration and the British Council in promoting innovative teaching practices and digital learning. She urged teachers to utilize the opportunity to enhance their skills and drive digital transformation in education.
She said, “we urge you to utilize this opportunity to enhance your skills, as your commitment and accountability are very crucial to Nigeria’s educational success.”
The Director of Science and Technology in the FCT Education Secretariat, Dr. Kolawole Olobashola, explained that the initiative is designed as a “train-the-trainer” programme, where about 250 teachers will be trained by the British Council and subsequently step down the training to other teachers in their respective schools, thereby expanding the reach and impact of the programme across the FCT.
Dr. Olobashola said the training was going to be held over the next four days, where a total of 7 modules are to be extensively covered by the 250 teachers.
The National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Dr. Samira Jibir, who was also present at the event, commended the British Council for its unwavering commitment to teacher development in FCT spanning over two decades now. Dr. Jibir, however, cautioned that the training must translate into real-life transformations.
In her words, “today’s learners are digitally differently wired. If we don’t guide them, they will go into the wrong hands. The outcome of this training is very important.”
Representatives of key education agencies and professional bodies were also in attendance, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), some management staff of the FCT Administration, and the six principals of the FCT Science and Technology Schools whose teachers are participating in the training.
