The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, says his ministry is determined to provide quality education to Nigerian children to meet the demands of the 21st century.
The minister spoke on Monday in Ibadan at the commencement of a training programme for selected teachers on digital literacy organised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Represented by the Registrar of TRCN, Prof. Segun Ajiboye, the minister redefined the strategic role teachers needed to play in the teaching and learning process.
According to the minister, digital literacy addresses a rapidly changing world filled with problems as well as exciting new possibilities.
The minister said that the training would develop the pedagogical and technical skills of teachers to bridge the gap between them and their students.
“My dear teachers, this is an opportunity in a lifetime which you must utilise efficiently because teaching has moved from literacy and numeracy to include digital understanding.
“Your ability to quickly adapt and manipulate your technological devices shall go a long way in promoting your delivery prowess and make your lesson as interesting and practical as possible.
“No nation can rise above the educational quality of its system. I am not only concerned about teacher professionalism but also teachers’ welfare,” he said.
The National Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr Kayode Akosile, commended the council on the training and harped on the relevance of ICT.
“Today, as a teacher, for you to be relevant, you must be ICT conversant or else you’ll be washed away by the tide.
“I went to Akure and observed that one-third of the teachers there could not operate the computer and this is appalling.
“This is one important knowledge we are going to imbibe to enhance our work and dignity,’’ he said.
He urged the teachers to make good use of the opportunity in order to boost their professional competence.
The consultant on the training initiative, Mr Nurideen Aderinto, urged participants to be receptive and imbibe the lessons learnt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 participants each were drawn from the 10 states of Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Niger, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Oyo and Kogi. (NAN)
