Children stand little chance of realising potential without qualified teachers- Expert

By Maryam Abeeb

Experts in the education sector have canvassed for qualified teachers as the catalyst to addressing the realization of students potentials.
They spoke in Abuja on the
sidelines of the Afrelib academy’s 2023 annual teachers’ conference, themed: “From the classroom to the world: Redefining teaching for the 21st century.”
The co-founder of Afrelib Academy, Joseph Ajuwon said that children stood very little chance of realizing their potential, when there are no qualified and motivated teachers to do the work.
Ajuwon said for teachers to stay motivated to impact knowledge on students, governments at all levels must join hands to empower teachers adequately.
According to him, the training was organised to train educators as they had primary contact with students.
He said: “There are lots of talks about children being the future of tomorrow and that is all based on giving them all the learning they need to know to survive for the future.
“None of that would be possible, no matter how many programmes are run per session, without the teachers who are central to all the learning that happens in the classroom.
“The teachers influence so much about these children. Today’s session is for us to focus on the teachers themselves, on how we can get them to the point where they’re no longer demoralised, disillusioned, disappointed or discouraged about the vocation.”
Also, the academy’s Head of Operations/Programme, of Afrelib Academy Joyce Gomina, said the conference was organised to remind teachers of their call and how much they can contribute to nation building.
“Every nation is as great as the quality of their teachers. We want to remind them to give their best so that at the end, we’ll raise people who will be proud of their experience at school having acquired a lot of skills.
‘’ This is because they came in contact with teachers that are very mindful of making intentional influence and impact on the children they work with,” she said.
An Educational Administrator, Dr Emmanuel Aina, while delivering his Keynote address, recommended a review of curriculum for teachers’ education with special attention to technology.
Aina also called for realistic remuneration packages for teachers in order to attract the best to the profession.
That conference brought together over 100 teachers from different schools across the FCT.