Save the Children International (SCI) funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has organised a one day induction for 94 volunteer teachers from Damaturu, Gujba and Potiskum Local Governments Areas (LGAs) in Yobe and Biu LGA in Borno states.
The induction ceremony took place Tuesday at the new lecture theatre, Federal Polytechnic Damaturu.
Yobe field office manager, Save the Children international, Mr. Mark Umoru, said Save the Children is implementing ‘Girls’ education in Conflict Affected Northeast Nigeria’.
Umaru stated that, the 28 years initiative recognised the decline in qualified and professional teachers
in Borno and Yobe states where the project is implemented and deliberately included in its original design the
need to support Volunteer Teachers to bring professional qualification.
“The SCI sought the collaboration of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to achieve this key objective. The journey began in January, 2021 when Save the Children (SCI) through the GAC project recruited 178 volunteer teachers and posted them to the 60 project supported schools in Borno and Yobe to support quality, gender responsive and culturally sensitive teaching and learning.
He further said, out of 136 volunteers,111 passed the test and “today 94 of these are proudly seated here to be Inducted and presented with qualification certificates and licenses to practice.
In his remarks, the Head of Education, SCI, represented by Iliya Joseph, said “with the recruitment of the volunteer teachers, we have discovered that for them to be recognised both at national and state level, there is need for them to be so qualified and registered with Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
On his part, the registrar and chief executive, TRCN Prof. Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye said, the programme is apt and instrumental at this time in the country especially in the northeastern states where the activities of insurgency has brought every sector in to a comatose level.
“The dearth of qualified and quality teachers to support gender responsive, conflict sensitive and quality teaching and learning in schools in the two projects states of Yobe and Borno, is a call to action which was shoulder by save the children initiative,” he said.
Represented by Mr. Abinbola Ahmed, Ajiboye noted that, TRCN is happy to be associated with this noble project of recruiting volunteer teachers to bridge the gap of professional teachers in the classroom and ensure sustainability of functional teaching and learning in the states.
“You are the symbol of greatness and aspirations of the new and evolving world. You are the symbol of Africa’s aspirations to stand tall and conquer, “he charged the inductees.