Teachers tasked on leading the change, self development
Posted by Ahmed Iyanda | 2 years ago | 1,112 times
Experts in the education sector across the globe have advised teachers to bring ideology that will change the world and to engage in continuous improvement to optimally deliver to their students.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Teach for Nigeria, Folawe Omikunle gave the advice during the four day Virtual Educators Conference organised by Emerald Edu Concept and Services with the theme, "Beyond the Classroom."
Folawe opined that the teaching environment has become engaging and demanding in many ways, therefore educators are challenged to take learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. Folawe noted that teachers are expected to have a clear vision in order to lead the change in the classroom and beyond.
"To lead the change, teachers must have a clear vision, be bold and fearless, recognize the power of community and understand that social challenges are systemic".
In another development, Bunmi Anani, the Maltina Teacher of the year 2020, Nigeria, highlighted practical steps to proving and improving teaching learning beyond the classroom.
According to her, teachers are co-creator of learners, adding that beyond the classroom entails bringing the world into the classroom and taking the classroom into the world.
She said, "your classroom is not only about you, but also about your learners and their community at large. You can't expect to build a nation when you haven't built yourself.
The educator opined that teachers need to be conscious of what is happening in their immediate environment and beyond.
" As a teacher who is collaborating globally for the sake of the learner, you must be impact -driven and also look deeply into the lives of the learners."
"Wherever you go, impact should be your goal," she added.
Also speaking, Keisha Thorpe, Global Teacher prize winner 2021, said teachers are nation builders and their contributions can never be overestimated.
Speaking on the topic: "The nation builder: leading the change beyond the classroom," Keisha stressed that teachers who are an agent of change must possess the character of empathy.
"Teaching is not just about a 9-4 job, teachers must go beyond the classroom to protect the interest of their students by engaging educational policies unfavorable to the students, Keisha said.
In order to achieve quality education, she said "you should not be afraid to disrupt the status quo to achieve equity and growth.
She noted that teachers at all levels, play an important role in molding the lives of the children and are responsible for what they turn out to be in future.
Keisha stressed that stakeholders at all levels must come to terms with the troubling fact that negative and harmful attitudes towards differences in the society can hinder learning and development.
The convener of the program and the Executive Director of Emerald Edu Concept and Services, Odusanya Olalekan Adeola in an interview mentioned that the theme was needed at this time as education is transforming daily and the trends could not afford teachers to restrict teaching and learning to the classroom. He also stressed the need for programs like this to be able to empower, equip and educate teachers on the latest best practices in the profession.
"Our goal for the conference was to ensure teachers get the right information that meets with the current trends in the profession globally. This will not only help them to be effective in delivery but also give them edge in all professional affairs. The theme is needed at this time because more is required from a teacher, and that involves going beyond the classroom to impact the community and make learning happen", he said.
Other highlights of the conference includes, the launching of the first educators' magazine in Africa, the Nation Builder, the launch of community project for Educators, School Reach Africa and various professional development programs.
