By JOE AMINAH

TO narrow the communication gap between the community private school pupils and others in the state through increased reading and writing in English Language, a non-governmental organisation, Emo-Eferotu Foundation, organised a programme in Abraka, Delta State, aimed at re-educating English Language teachers on how to improve their teaching abilities of the language as it relates to primary school pupils.

The 10-week lectures/workshops jointly sponsored by Delta State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), was targeted at teachers in public primary schools towards developing their capacity in the grasp of English language described as a major tool in child education and improvement of pupils’ communication ability in their future endeavoúrs.

With the theme: English Language – the Pathway to Learning, the retraining programme commenced with a catchphrase- Starting Off Right Initiative (STORI) spread among six primary schools in Abraka.

The foundation, which is in partnership with Bayelsa- based Community Defence Law Foundation, Ministry of Education and the Chief Inspector of Education (CIE), Ethiope East Local Government Area, aims at bridging the communication gap in English Language between public primary school pupils in the locality and others in the country.

The aim, explained the foundation’s co-ordinator, Ms. Pamela Esiri, is to build the pupils’ capacity through qualitative teaching in English for them to be more productive to the society as well as groom them for future educational engagements.

The courses included Oral English, Practical guide in alphabets and Instructional (aid) materials, Teaching of handwriting, recitation and spelling as an engagement of the pupils in practical identification of objects, gardening and short plays in English Language.

Delivering a paper entitled Attitudinal Change for Sustainable Educational Development, Mrs. Selly Elakhame, one of the resource persons, said education is the key to sustainable development of any nation, pointing out that the education focuses on four cardinal foundations viz: “to know, to do, to live together and to transform oneself and the society.”

In her address, the facilitator of the programme, Mrs. Faith Aku, disclosed that teaching involves an intense and psychological process between the teacher and the student thus creating personal relationships. Teachers, she advised, should have the ability to leave indelible impressions on their student’s memories, challenging them to employ effective attitude and actions to make positive difference on their pupils and students.