By Etop Ekanem

Demonstrating commitment to the upskilling of teachers and the overall growth of primary education, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board’s (LASUBEB) EKOEXCEL has partnered with the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) for the maiden edition of its annual lecture and award series.

The colourful event themed ”Development Through Education-Learning and Livelihood” was held last week with teachers and public officials in attendance.

Speaking at the occasion, Lagos NUT Chairman, Hassan Akintoye, said the lecture was to advance the cause of education and promote stakeholders’ engagement and commitment to its growth.

He added that the theme was carefully chosen to allow stakeholders to deliberate on arresting the falling standard of education and knowledge gaps and promote industry skill sets acquisition for a sustainable educational system.

Also speaking, LASUBEB’s Executive Chairman, Wahab Alawiye-King, commended the initiative, disclosing that it “critically considered and reviewed matters of public importance and also honoured those that have contributed in no small means to the development of education.”

Earlier, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemil Bamidele, said  effective linkage between the education sector and industries should be promoted to bridge the knowledge gap between research and development.

Bamidele also said that no nation could develop beyond the capacity of its educational institutions and system.

He acknowledged the teachers’ efforts, asking them to remain steadfast, dedicated and committed contributors to nation-building.

Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs FolasadeAdefisayo, commended the teachers, noting that their mandate was to increase access and improve learning outcomes in primary and secondary schools in the State.

She assured that teachers would continue to make learning conducive by renovating schools and exposing teachers to skills needed to enhance effective performance.

“87 per cent of parents say children have improved since the start of EKOEXCEL Initiative, which has to improve numeracy and literacy in pupils,” she said.

Months before the lecture, the NUT Chairman,  Akintoye, requested EKOEXCEL to partner with the NUT in its planning and execution.

He explained that the lecture would be a platform for stakeholders in the education sector to create a direction for its development.

Akintoye, who had also highlighted the impacts of EKOEXCEL, added that deliberations at the lecture would form the basis for policy formulation that will drive Lagos State’s education development.

He had also attested to the transformational impacts of EKOEXCEL, noting, “Before the intervention, teaching was analogue. It was based on the competence of individual teachers manning the classroom, but the level of competence varies from one individual to another. The teachers have a standardised digital instrument that leads them to perform their duties. Because of the analogue method, you couldn’t thoroughly ascertain the performance standard, but with the introduction of the highly digitalised EKOEXCEL, we now have that standard.

“Then, teaching before the intervention was more teacher-centred. The teacher determines how they go about the teaching, but they sometimes unconsciously forget that their teaching is about pupils in the classroom because a framework is absent. But with EKOEXCEL, there is a standardised instrument guiding a teacher in Alimosho and another in Ibeju lekki or even teachers within the same local government, but at different schools. Teaching and learning have become more pupil-centred. As you are teaching, you are also learning. The innovative technology has also enabled the teacher to learn because there is guidance.”

Launched in 2019 by Governor BabajideSanwo-Olu to transform Lagos public primary schools through technology deployment, EKOEXCEL has recorded tangible gains among teachers and pupils, leading to improved learning outcomes for pupils and more professional teachers.

The Governor was among the awards recipients at the ceremony.