By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

The Office of the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, through the North East Development Commission (NEDC) has organised in- person training for Science, Technology, Mathematics and Agriculture (STEMA ) teachers in Senior Secondary Schools across Borno State to acquire technical skills and teaching methodology for students.

The occasion took place on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The training programme through Academic Support and Skills Enhancement Programme (ASSEP) project, aims at enhancing teachers’ ability to integrate technology into their teaching methods, as part of a broader effort to boost education in the region.

With this move, teachers in Borno State are expected to leverage digital tools to make learning more interactive and engaging for students.

Gbenga Ojo , the lead consultant in the training, said the office of the VIce President has organised the training in order to give the teachers more stones to step on to be able to deliver more practicable teachings for the students in senior secondary schools in Borno State.

He said at the end of the training, teachers are expected to integrate technology in delivering their teachings after undergoing different courses.

Ojo said with advent of technology, teachers should be able to use technological advancement in the world to provide deliverables to the students.

” It will encourage students to improve technologically which is the ultimate of the in- person training “, he said.

The State Focal Person ASSEP, Suleiman Abba Sheriff said about 250 teachers have so far benefited in the first and second batch of the training which has been certified by one million teachers and National Institute of Teachers.

He said while 150 teachers were trained in the first batch, 100 teachers benefited from the second batch with 33 selected from northern Borno senatorial district, 33 selected from southern Borno, while 34 were selected from Borno central.

In a vote of thanks, the Personal Assistant on Domestic and Northeast Affairs to the Vice President and a member of Project Implementation Team (PIT) ASSEP, Comrade Mahmud Muhammad , said the day marks the successful conclusion of the ASSEP In-person Training for STEMA teachers of Senior Secondary School across the 3 Senatorial districts in Borno state.

He said this initiative, a joint partnership between NEDC and the Office of the Vice President, serves as a localised cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“By prioritising human capital development, the programme aims to bridge the educational gap in the North East and equip the next generation with the technical skills necessary for a 21st-century economy.

“Through this initiative, a collaboration between the Office of the Vice President and the NEDC, we have witnessed an incredible journey of professional growth and pedagogical excellence.

“Teachers are the heartbeat of our regional recovery. By equipping them with modern tools and innovative teaching strategies, we are ensuring that every student in the Northeast has a fighting chance at a brilliant future.

“Kudos to our leader, Dr Maryam Masha SSAP on NEDC & Regional Development, our focal person, Mr Suleiman Abba, the lead facilitator Mr Ojo and his vibrant team of experts, for their dedication, our participants too for your rapt attention and a huge thank you to the OVP, NEDC and Borno state government for their unwavering commitment to human capital development,” Muhammad said.

One of the participants, a teacher from Government Girls Secondary School Maiduguri, Fadilatu Mohammed, commended the office of the Vice President for organising the training, adding that it has equipped her and other trainees on how to integrate technology in classroom work.