The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has organised a workshop to build teachers capacity on Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) and Jolly Phonics programme for teachers across the country.
The Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, at the workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, said that SMASE and Jolly Phonics have been implemented over 10 years in the UBE programme.
Bobboyi, represented by Prof. Bala Zakari from the commission, said that SMASE had been a major programme that had helped in strengthening the study of science and mathematics in basic education.
He said the commission had continuously injected the Teachers Professional Development (TPD) fund into the training of teachers in order to build teachers capacity in SMASE.
”In any developed world or any nation aspiring for technological development, the priority given to the study of science and mathematics is always high.
”Nigeria is not left out in this aspiration for technological and science advancement.
“Having adopted SMASE after its introduction by JICA in 2006 and piloted in three states of Kaduna, Plateau and Niger, has also placed the teaching of science and mathematics with the methodology prescribed in the SMASE programme in a place of priority.
“After the handing over of the programme, UBEC took it upon itself to continuously inject the TPD fund into the training of teachers in order to build their capacity in SMASE.
”This is because of the pivotal roles teachers play in the delivery of the programme,” he said.
The UBEC boss said that the jolly phonics programme had been adopted as the flagship programme of the commission on early grade reading.
According to him, it is important to underscore the relevance of reading in the life of a learner.
”A learner who is able to read early in life is not likely to drop out and certainly is assured of success as the foundation for further learning and self-development has been built.
“It is in view of this fact that the commission adopted the jolly phonics programme and its methodology in building the capacity of teachers in basic education to enable them effectively teach reading in schools,” he added.
Earlier, the Director of Teachers Development in the commission, Aleshin Olumayowa, said that SMASE was used to train teachers on how to improvise and help learners in learning science and mathematics.
Olumayowa added that it also helped teachers to teach the subjects effectively and also enhance assimilation by learners, adding that jolly phonics is a flagship reading programmes of the commission.
“If the teacher does not know how to deliver and deliver properly, a learner will not learn and learning outcomes that we are expecting will not be there.
”So if you build the capacity of the teacher to effectively deliver and deliver whatever subject that is handling, deliver it so that the learners can learn it in a very simple and effective way,” he said. (NAN)
