The induction exercise, which was coordinated by the Nurture House Consulting team, took place in three different locations in the state—Ikorodu, Ikeja and Agege.
The exercise had as theme, ‘Leading Learning in a Fast-Evolving World,’ saw the inductees understand the responsibilities on them were enormous as they were put through the civil service rules expected to guide them; how to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for enhanced teaching; understanding and managing pupils and students of different backgrounds; technology and lots more.
Ayopeju Njideaka, the chief executive of Nurture House Consulting, explained that the idea was to prepare and equip teachers for the classroom as they learnt about establishment matters.
Noting also that they learnt how best to handle children, implying that child safety and protection was paramount, they were refreshed about the curriculum. In addition to which Njideaka said they also learnt about networking which is a very important aspect of their job.
“Lagos State is very keen on ensuring that teachers are of global standards, they are exposed to many opportunities, so they network. This has contributed to improved qualities over the years. The induction doesn’t end here. There is so much more that they do in class. Of course, we also work with their leaders, that is the principals who support them.
“We understand that the quality of education at the university level in some cases are behind, that gives us a challenge that we now need to go back to the foundation. But the beauty of it is that Lagos State only recruits the best of the best. That helps us to surmount one of the challenges,” she said.
Victoria Mopelola-Peregrino, chairman, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), while appreciating the governor, pointed out that teaching was not just any profession. As a teacher, she said, you are a mentor, an encourager, a touch bearer, you impart the truth and facts. The good teacher, she added, teaches from his heart and not only from the books.
Mopelola-Peregrino disclosed that the totality of the development of the children was in the hands of the teachers, though the parents are there but that the parents look unto the teachers to smoothen the rough edges. She advised that they be tech-savvy and in tune with global trends as the children of today are in the fast lane.
“So, first and foremost, they must improve themselves academically; immerse themselves in technology rather than shy away from it; they should have passion and self-confidence for the job. They should do to the students what they would want to be done to their own children.
“They should love and have passion for the job; have empathy for the children and other teachers; don’t be a loner, share knowledge, synergise and cooperate with other people,” he noted.
Bopo Oyekan, Permanent Secretary of TESCOM, revealed that the state governor was spending a lot on education and, especially technology, that the inductees should leverage the opportunity to key into the education aspect of his THEMES Agenda and to ensure that the students that they teach come out excellently so as to be better citizens of the state and the country at large.
Oluwadamilola Ige, one of the inductees, appreciated the governor for the privilege of being a part of the induction as, according to her, not all that applied were granted employment.
