NTI partners UNESCO, trains 250 teachers on HIV education

National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) Kaduna in collaboration with United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has trained 250 teachers from five states on Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE).

The 250 teachers of Basic Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Home Economics, Civic Education and Religious Studies, drawn from Kaduna, Cross River, Imo, Lagos and Taraba states, were taken through a two-day capacity building workshop to equip them on how to handle issues around family life and HIV education, such as relationship and society, gender and human rights, as well as promoting mental health and well-being. 

Speaking while declaring open the training, taking place simultaneously across the five states, the Director and Chief Executive of NTI, Prof. Musa Garba Maitafsir, who appreciated the commitment of UNESCO, Kaduna State Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) in the training, said the workshop was designed and packaged to prepare the teachers.

He said HIV education beyond creating awareness about the virus, was intended to reduce stigma, discrimination, fear and equipping families with the needed knowledge as well as protecting themselves from the deadly virus. 

‘’NTI is committed in promoting the set objectives as it believes in empowering families with knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions, prevent HIV transmission, provide care and support to the infected individuals. I remain resolute, together we work towards building a world where families are not torn apart by HIV, but rather strengthen through love, empathy and education,’’ he said, while urging the participants of the intensive training to cascade the knowledge to their colleagues.

Also speaking, the UNESCO Consultant, Mr. Oluwaseun Bamidele, said it was a train-the-trainer workshop, expected to build the skills of the participants. 

He commended NTI’s Director and Chief Executive for his commitment on the workshop and the training institute for collaborating with UNESCO.

Representative of the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Malama Maryam Ibrahim, in her remarks, lauded the Institute’s effort and commitment in the training, while urging the participants to step down the training in their respective schools, so that the positive impact would be felt. 

Representative of the Kaduna SUBEB, Hassana Nyalla, also commended NTI for the training. 

The training, which is also inclusive, takes into cognizance persons with disabilities and aimed at increasing teachers’ knowledge of FLHE concepts and different approaches for effective delivery.

It is also to strengthen the capacity of in-service teachers and FLHE desk officers, to deliver Family Life and HIV Education that responds to the specific needs of adolescents and young people, including those living with disabilities. 

The two-day training, has an expected outcome of effective use of different approaches to deliver the FLHE concepts to various categories of learners, including those with disabilities.