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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with the Bayelsa State Minister of Education and technical support from the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education, has commenced a three-day master training of master trainers programme to build the capacity of ICT lecturers selected across higher institutions in the state on digital pedagogy and artificial intelligence.
The training is part of the Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS) to Build Teachers’ Capacity and Resilience (EISS) project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNESCO, is intended for the 40 master trainers and the 1,445 teachers with practical skills to integrate digital technologies and AI-supported approaches into classroom teaching and learning.
Esther Ikenye, UNESCO’s Programme Assistant, said the EISS project was designed to contribute to human development in Nigeria by strengthening the education system through better governance and teaching and learning.
According to her, the project rests on the principle that teachers are the most important in-school factor in learning.
She added that the EISS project recognises that digital tools and artificial intelligence are already part of contemporary teaching, and it intends to support their use for the overall benefit of society.
‘’The project works on three fronts. It supports policies that address teacher shortages and working conditions. It strengthens the skills of in-service and pre-service teachers, with a focus on resilience. And it builds connections between teachers, their colleagues and their learners. Bayelsa is one of six project focal states, and this training is one of the clearest examples of the second front in action.
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‘’Digital tools and
artificial intelligence are already part of the world our learners live in.
Used well, they can help a teacher plan a lesson faster, reach a learner who is
falling behind, assess progress, and spend more time on teaching. Used without
care, they can mislead and widen gaps. That is why this training teaches the
skills together with the judgement: checking accuracy, recognising bias,
keeping learners safe online, and using AI responsibly.’’
Ikenye, while acknowledging the presence of representatives of the European Union, TRCN, NUT and the SUBEB Teachers’ Professional Development Directorate, charged the 40 Master Trainers to participate fully in the training programme because the success of the programme in Bayelsa State depends on them.
‘’You are 40 Master Trainers, and what you learn this week does not end in this room. From 16 November, you will lead the training of 1,445 teachers at three centres in Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama. These teachers will then continue learning online at their own pace, with your support. In practical terms, the success of this programme in Bayelsa State is in your hands.
At the end of the three-day training, the 40 Master Trainers are expected to be able to navigate the digital pedagogy platform as a learner: register, track progress, complete quick checks and earn a certificate.
In addition, they should be able to demonstrate the
core skills in each of the 13 modules on their own devices as well as deliver a
short teach-back of any module to a peer group, using the module content and
walkthrough videos.
The master trainers would also be able to support teachers through the 26-question final assessment (70% pass mark) and the module ratings required for certification while producing a state cascade plan with targets, timelines and support arrangements
