By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar 

The Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI), in Biase LGA  of Cross River State, has concluded a two-day skill acquisition training, to  enhance the capacity of 150 Mathematics and Science teachers in select secondary schools from the three senatorial districts of the state.

The intensive residential workshop on “Innovative Approaches in Teaching Mathematics and Science Subjects in Secondary Schools” took place from March 27-28, 2025. 

The workshop aims to enhance secondary school teachers’ proficiency in mathematics and science by introducing them to cutting-edge teaching practices and strategies.

Director-General of the Institute, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, represented by the Deputy Director-General Mrs Mary Omaji, emphasized the TCTI’s dedication to providing continuing professional development opportunities for teachers, ultimately enhancing their classroom performance.

Prof. Adedoja assured trainees of the state government’s commitment to delivering a satisfying experience to teachers retraining.

 He also noted that the educational sector is rapidly shifting towards skills acquisition and digital science literacy, encouraging participants to approach the training with utmost seriousness.

“The Cross River State government is doing a lot to ensure that our children are not left behind in getting the best education through retraining of teachers for the classroom task.

“We encourage you all to return home and make teaching and learning an enjoyable experience for your students. 

“Technology has transformed every aspect of human life, making it easier to acquire new skills. We implore you to apply the knowledge you’ve gained in mathematics and science to develop entrepreneurial skills in our secondary schools”, he said.

On his part, Mr. Mavis Mba, a teacher from Government Science School in Etung LGA, lauded the workshop for providing hands-on, interactive training that equipped teachers with effective practical strategies for immediate classroom implementation. 

He highlighted sessions like ‘Critical Rationale for Innovation in Teaching Mathematics’ and ‘Individualized Teaching Using Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)’ as particularly valuable, offering actionable methods that blended theory and practice for secondary school educators. “I’d like to express gratitude to the workshop organizers, the resource persons and the governor of Cross River State for introducing these innovative approaches,” he asserted.

Another teacher , Mr. Igbolor Stephen, from Government Science School in Ishribori-Ogoja LGA, said the training is a commendable initiative.

 He commended  the TCTI, stressing that its high informative value was second to none.

“We’ve gained insights into innovative teaching methods for physics topics like mechanics, optics, waves, electricity, magnetism and modern physics.

“Effective physics teaching in secondary schools requires diverse methods, including Inquiry-Based Learning. This approach encourages students to ask questions, explore concepts through experiments that guide investigations,” he said.