By Joy Odor
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), Professor Bashir Usman has unveiled a 4 day Critique workshop on the Reviewed and Developed Teacher’s Guides in Islamic Religious studies (IRS), Christian Religious studies (CRS), History for the Education of Nomadic Pastoralists and Migrant Fisherfolk/Farmers.
NCNE boss who stayed this in his opening speech informed that there is the need to re-examine the developed teacher’s guides by subjecting it to critiquing to ensure that they meet national standards.
Prof Usman affirmed that the effective implementation of any programme depends solely on the identification and development of relevant materials for the programme.
According to him, the teacher’s guides play a transitional role between curriculum and classroom applications.
He maintained that effective teacher’s guides would provide pedagogical knowledge and support to teachers to help them understand the ideas and to implement curriculum plan/guide in which this workshop is set out to address.
“I am happy to inform you that we were here in January this year to complete the development of teacher’s guides in these subject areas.
“Since inception, the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE) has considered the development and adaptation of relevant teaching and learning materials a priority in its effort towards the provision of qualitative education to the children of nomads, and has taken necessary steps to address this.
“In doing this, the Commission takes special note of the fact that its establishment was based on the fact that nomads as a group, have peculiar needs, lifestyle, work-role and environment.
“These groups need special and relevant educational programme for their development and progressive of the society” he stressed.
Prof Usman commended the resource persons for accepting to be part of the exercise, Management members for their cooperation and commitment to the implementation of NEP and hoped that the contributions that would be made during the workshop would realise the set objectives.
Earlier in his address, the Head of Department, Planning Research and Strategic, Dr Rose Nwaji noted that the workshop bears testimony of the Commission’s firm commitment to provide relevant and functional education to the nomadic children.
She emphasized that it also demonstrate its commitment, the Commission from 2021 till date has embarked on the review/development and critique of curriculum, pupil’s texts and teacher’s guides in the same subject areas.
“It is in this context that this workshop is holding today.
“With the dawn of the 21st Century, which brought along with it, the emergence of issues and problems in the socio-economic, cultural and political space has also made the Commission to continue to take stock and re-examine the issues on teaching and learning in nomadic schools.
“The objectives of the workshop are to:
a. critically examine the reviewed/developed teacher’s guides in Islamic Religious Studies (IRS), Christian Religious Studies (CRS) and History (Pastoralists) (levels 1 – 6);
b. ensure that all the topics in the curriculum are captured in the teacher’s guides to the needs of the pastoralists and migrant fisherfolk/farmers;
c. ensure the quality and standard of the developed teacher’s guides;
d. critique teacher’s guides that can provide proper instruction on the synchronised use of curriculum and pupil’s texts;
e. determine the relevance of the materials to the socio-cultural values of pastoralists, migrant fisherfolk/farmers.
f. produce hard-draft copies of the new developed teacher’s guides.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you are aware that teacher’s guides are critical resources for teachers in the classroom delivery.
A well-designed teacher’s guide contributes to communicating and effective teaching.
“It plays the role of critical mediator in the transmission of the intentions and methods as well as easily supporting teaching and learning processes” she said.
