Devote more time for children under your care, Economic Commissioner urges teachers

Anambra State Commissioner for Economic Planning Budget and Development Partners, Mr. Mark Okoye, has urged teachers in the state to work toward molding children’s character in their formative years.

Mr. Okoye said this during Early Childhood Education Seminar with theme: “Effective Classroom Management’’, organised for primary school teachers in Awka.

He explained that teachers’ actions in classroom had “twice the influence on children’s achievement than the curriculum assessment or any other education resources returns’’.

The commissioner thanked Governor Willie Obiano for making the programme go round the three senatorial zones of the state and appealed for it to be extended to accommodate more teachers.

Anambra State Universal Basic Education and UNICEF Desk Officer, Amaka Ikedinma, emphasised the need for teachers to make the programme part of them so as to get the desired results.

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“We train teachers to make them efficient in their art of teaching methodology and communication skills with students,’’ she said.

A participant, Mrs. Ngozi Eze of Ezinato Primary School, Awka said that teachers were role models, and they need to be taught about comportment and exemplary life style.

Amaka Ifeme, a teacher suggested the provision of facilities for training of children in the classrooms that would help children to be involved in critical thinking.

It would also make them to be more innovative with their skills.

The only male participant, Mr. Ubaka Okeke, stressed that the Science Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) strategy in basic education was a welcome development as obtained in advanced countries.