The Lagos State Government has commenced an online digital literacy training programme for Post-Primary School Teachers as part of efforts to enhance the skills of its teaching workforce towards transformation of the education sector.
Speaking during the virtual flag-off of the first batch of participants in the free Training Programme for Teachers on Grade Level 08-13, the Chairman, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo, observed that the training is part of the conscious efforts of the Commission at transforming the Post-Primary Teaching Service into a Digitally-Smart Workforce.
She said, “Since it is generally accepted that no educational system can rise above the standard of its teachers, the Commission is totally committed to addressing the digital inadequacies of public school teachers who are critical to the realisation of the present administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda”.
While appreciating the management of the support teams of Microsoft and ATB Techsoft Solutions Limited for offering to equip teachers with digital knowledge aimed at developing the teaching and learning processes in public schools, Ariyo maintained that, on completion, teachers would have been trained digitally in consonance with today’s realities.
The Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Toyin Awoseyi, lauded the concerted efforts of the Microsoft and ATB Techsoft Solutions Limited support teams in actualising the training programme, expressing the Commission’s gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the unwavering commitment to developing the skills of Lagos State Post-Primary School teachers.
Mrs. Awoseyi urged the participants to embrace online training in order to enhance their careers through capacity development, emphasising that the realities of COVID-19 pandemic have introduced a “new normal” that must be embraced in the sector.
Earlier, the Country Manager, Microsoft, Mr. Akin Banuso, opined that the most important profession in the world is the teaching profession and, as such, empowering teachers to achieve their onerous goal is essential for their personal improvement as well as the knowledge imparted to their students.
In his words, “we are here to support you. I want to encourage you to participate fully in the Programme. The journey and the experiences are all for you. Please, take them seriously”.
Applauding the Lagos State Government for pioneering the training and considering every teacher as “an ambassador” of the State, the CEO, ATB Techsoft Solutions Limited, Mr. Abiodun Atobatele, noted that without education, the future remains uncertain and in ensuring certainty of the future, the most important stakeholders are the teachers.
KS/TMS/OS
