Sesame Workshop, a non-profit educational organisation, says it has completed its pilot educational programme, aimed at promoting uninterrupted education during school closure in Adamawa and Bauchi state.
Mrs Ayobisi Osuntusa, Executive Director, Sesame Square Nigeria Foundation, said this at an event tagged ‘Sesame Workshop: Teaching Smarter’, in Abuja
She said that the ‘Teaching Smarter’ project was aimed at instilling a step by step guide that would make learning easier and fun for early learners.
She said the organisation selected the two states because it found out that they were hit the most by COVID-19 and insurgency which led to teaching disruptions.
“Teaching Smarter is a project that began last year when we realized that children in early years were not receiving any education during the pandemic.
“We found out that they were left out of the online programmes, there were television and radio Programmes for the older children but nothing for children between the ages of three to five.
“Scientifically, children’s brain develop up to 95 per cent before they turn five, so without that foundation, the children will not be able to build something concrete when it is time for them to write WAEC.
“So we felt that that was a real mistake, so we sought for a way of fixing that problem,” she said.
Mr Aleshin Olumayowa, Director, Teachers Development, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), added that the project was important as it had equipped the teachers with new knowledge of teaching.
“Teaching smarter does not just involve introduction of technology into the classroom but the introduction of new approaches to teaching.
“For us at the department of Universal Basic Education, we are ensuring that teachers embrace technology and they are up-skilled such that with the infusion of pedagogy can be seamless for them.
“It will be bring them to speed through capacity building, so that the teachers can be smart and work efficiently,” he said.
Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, represented by Dr Folake David, Director, Basic Education Department, said the the project was apt as it has helped in bridging the gap in the number of out-of-school children in the country.
He added that there was urgent need for alternatives that will fit into the existing system of education so as to ensure that all children in the country have access to basic education.
“The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education is concerned about the issue of out-of-school children and it is one of the pillars on the ministerial strategic plan.
“And a lot of attention and Programmes and activities have been put in place and I must say that we have experienced significant reduction in out-of-school children,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sesame Workshop, a non-profit educational organisation is behind Sesame Street, a pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969.(NAN)
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