Primary school education development: EAC, Poland make case for Activity-Based pedagogy

Worried by the decreasing learning outcomes in the Nigerian primary school system across the country, Director, Educational Advancement Centre, Ibadan, one of the first private Cambridge Advanced Level education training and examination centres in Nigeria, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose has facilitated a primary school education expert from Poland, Agata Wilam, founder and Chief Executive Officer of WhyBluesky, based Krakow, to intimate primary school teachers in Oyo State with the 21st-century pedagogy that focused on Activity-Based teaching and learning method for the development of primary school education in the state.

The development led to a one-day intensive interactive training organized for not less than 19 primary school teachers, drawn from various primary schools in the state by the Educational Advancement Centre, in collaboration with WhyBluesky, from Poland, to share the new teaching method knowledge with the primary school teachers in Oyo State.

While addressing the participants on Tuesday, held at the EAC training centre, The Polish woman, Agata Wilam described the Nigerian teaching methods, especially at the foundation level, as obsolete that could not deliver the expected learning outcome for this 21st century needs.

According to her, the new pedagogy, which she called the Activity-Based teaching method, offer an effective learning procedure that could inculcate in learners such learning skills as communication, creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking. The teaching method also ignites the curiosity of learners as against some other teaching methods.

She condemned the traditional method of teaching pupils in Nigerian schools, saying that Nigerian teachers have the habit of talking to pupils instead of talking with them while teaching the subject. She said that talking to pupils teaching method would encourage memorization learning process while talking with pupils teaching method would encourage pupils’ participation in the class for effective learning.

She said: “ I came to Nigeria from Poland to contribute my quota to the education development in Nigeria. I have observed over the years that children all over the world are very curious. Then, a thought came to my mind to introduce and create awareness among primary schools in the world about the tested teaching methodology. This was what informed my decision to come to Nigeria for the same purpose.

“Although teachers should have different teaching methods to impart knowledge and skills on their pupils, Activity-Based teaching method seems to be more effective, as it satisfies children’s needs, in the sense that every child wants to be engaged. To the best of my knowledge, the Activity-Based teaching method helps pupils to be active in life.

“In this regards, Nigerian primary school should disengage itself from Talking-To pupils teaching method for memorization, rather to adopt the Talking–With-Pupils teaching method, using Activity-“Based education. It is not boredom, and the learning outcome is highly encouraging, even in Poland.

Speaking in the same vein, Mojirade Adeniran, from WhyBluesky, Lagos office, confirmed the effectiveness of the new teaching method in the primary education school system.

According to her, the skills the world needs in this 21st century has gone beyond sending the children to become Engineer, Medical Doctor and so on, but now, a child needs problem-solving skills, critical thinking skill, the ability to collaborate and also able to work as a team, in addition to his, or her choice of profession Effective communication is also part of the skills that Activity –Based teaching will expose the learners. ”Many schools in Lagos are adapting it,” she said.

Some of the participants, Mrs Mabel Akintola, School Head, Life Foundation International School, Ibadan and Adebowale Michael from Olumide Day Nursery and Primary school, Ibadan, attested to the relevance of the new teaching method in this 21st-century teaching and learning process

According to them, it is a welcome development in the history of primary school education in Nigeria. this method, they said, would make teaching and learn more interesting.

Director, Educational Advancement Centre, Pastor Bamgbose called for the restructuring of primary school education in the ongoing education reform process in the country.

According to him, We need to develop primary school education adequately enough in terms of employment of professional teachers, provision of teaching aids/ educational materials and use of effective pedagogy to produce quality products for secondary school education.

He asserted that Activity- Based teaching and learning method will help the pupils to embrace education better and prepare them fully as future leaders and problem solvers.” I brought this educational international organization to Oyo State to support the growth and development of primary school education in the state. The training programme for the new teaching method is open for every school in the state, and it is ongoing even on WhatsApp,” he said.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers…  EAC, Poland make case for Activity-Based pedagogy  EAC, Poland make case for Activity-Based pedagogy  EAC, Poland make case for Activity-Based pedagogy EAC, Poland make case for Activity-Based pedagogy.