Leverage technology to enhance teaching, learning – Idris urges teachers

Nasir Idris of Kebbi, has urged teachers in the state to leverage technology for enhanced teaching and learning.

He stated this while declaring open the 9th State Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Kebbi chapter,
held in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

Our correspondent reports that the theme of the conference is: ‘Embracing the Use of Technology in Increasing Teaching and Learning Outcomes’.

The Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Kabir Labbo-Jega, said the call became necessary in view of the fact that technology remains the driver of development.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to our teachers to take advantage of technology by improving their technological skills for enhanced teaching and learning in schools.

“Technology has now become a pathway to success in life and teaching profession cannot be left out,” he said.

Idris stressed the need for the people to give highest respect to teachers, saying ,”because the world revolves around teachers and teachers make the world.”

The governor observed that the theme of the conference was apt especially in the 21 century, where technology had dominated so many things in life.

Commenting on the election, Idris charged the new executives to lead with fairness, adding that winning elections “does not require congratulations.

He said, “Instead, it’s a task ahead of you. You need to be congratulated after you have successfully accomplished the task.”

In his speech, the National President, NUT, Mr Audu Titus-Amba, represented by Hambali Muhammad from the national headquarters, encouraged the new leadership to be focused and committed to the course of teachers’ interests.

The national president urged them to place the interest of teachers at centre of their leadership by carrying all manner of people along.

In his presentation, the Guest Speaker, Prof. Bala Bakwai-Kwashabawa, Faculty of Education, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, observed that the nation was gradually moving away from traditional mode of teaching to digital learning.

He recalled that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigeria became more pronounced around the year 2000.

The don also recalled that when the COVID-19 ravaged the world, Nigeria was forced to resort to the use of ICT to inculcate knowledge on students.

Bakwai-Kwashabawa said that the use of digital tools had become necessary to facilitate teaching and to make teaching activities as easy as possible.

According to him, there are different softwares designed to ease learning, adding that in just 10 minutes one can develop 20 lesson plans.

Earlier, the NUT Chairman, Kebbi chapter, Usman Adamu-Isgogo, saluted Idris for his laudable achievements within just two years.

He lauded the governor for transforming not only education but also other sectors of the economy and urged him to sustain the tempo.

Adamu-Isgogo listed some of the achievements recorded by the governor to include; recruitment of 2,000 teachers, renovation and rehabilitation of schools.

Others were the provision of furniture, payment of students’ tuition fees, upward review of school feeding from N150 million to N300 million, construction of roads, installation of solar street lights among others.

While appreciating the governor for according priority to NUT activities, the chairman also appealed for two official vehicles for the state office operations, provision of computers to schools, and establishment of an Education Resource Centre.