Abike Sanusi
Yearly, on World Teacher’s Day, World Teacher’s Dayteachers who give us the fundamental skills on which our future rests are celebrated. In a country like Nigeria, which is a country filled with educational tributes, there’s a need to reawaken the passion for impacting knowledge in the teaching career.
The passion for play-based learning
Mrs Omotola Lawson, the founder of Delightful Toyshop –
Nigeria’s first toy-focused shop, is a teacher by training. According to her,
there was a time when teachers were seen as the builders of young minds, not
just by the word of knowledge. There was joy in learning, a spark that
lightened curiosity.
She said her experience
in the classroom and business gave her a special idea. According to her,
Delightful Toyshop, reflects the direct power of play in sparking a child’s
imagination. This helps them to explore, experiment and learn at their
convenience. Unfortunately, the education system of Nigeria neglects this
crucial aspect .
Beyond the paper: Reviving
the teaching spirit
The Nigerian education system has gone a long way, but
challenges remain, such as rigid curriculum, limited infrastructure, and large
class sizes. These problems can kill the creativity and passion of teachers
She noted that
teachers need support; imagine an artist doesn’t have proper tools. This
is the reality of Nigerian teachers. They should be given resources and trained
to encourage a compelling learning environment.
How to bring back the spark in the Nigerian educational
system
Teachers should be trained on children’s behavioural
activities, such as mental, emotional, and physical activities, classroom
administration, and teaching procedures. They must be trained on how to be
creative and should be allowed to have practical and a sense of ownership of
their teaching plans.
There should be innovative learning materials, educational
technology and a well-equipped environment for learning. Interactive games and
toys can help achieve active learning.
It is also important to redesign the curriculum to provide
innovative methods in education. For instance, it can be restructured to foster
problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking. Some other engaging methods,
like elements of play, project-based
learning and real-world applications, should be included in the curriculum.
Recognising the hard work of teachers as they are the
backbone of the education system is very important. This honour should be done
publicly and within their schools to boost their energy and attract more people
to the career.
There was a time when teachers were well respected, and it
is important to celebrate, honour, and invest in them. Provide tools needed to
make learning an impactful one for the children.
By collaborating with parents, teachers, policymakers, and
the private sector, it is possible to have an education system that caters to
children’s growth and imbibes the spirit of learning. On World Teachers Day, we
should be committed to inspiring Nigerian teachers to teach and impact because
they are the key to unlocking our future potential.
Sanusi wrote in from Lagos.
Interesting thoughts
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