Alumni Advocate Better Training, Pay For Teachers

The Anwar-ul-Islam Old Students Association (ACAOSA) Global has urged regular training, improved remuneration and incentives for teachers to attract quality professionals and secure Nigeria’s educational future.

The association yesterday organised a one-day capacity-building session for 50 teachers from Anwar-ul-Islam College, Agege, and Anwar-ul-Islam Girls’ High School, Ojokoro in Lagos.

The training, themed ‘Transforming Teaching with AI: Digital Integration for Smarter Classrooms and Professional Excellence’, was facilitated by Brainy Oaks Educational and Professional Consultants.

Dr Abdulfatai Afolabi, ACAOSA Global president-general, said the initiative was inspired by students’ declining performance in final examinations and the need to raise teaching standards.

Afolabi, a 1975 graduate, noted a decline in enrolment, stressing the importance of building teachers’ capacity to improve results and attract more students to the schools.

He said: “If our schools consistently record 90 per cent success in external examinations, enrolment will increase and our association’s legacy will be sustained.”

Afolabi emphasised the need for improved remuneration, insisting teachers deserved more recognition and benefits than they currently receive in Nigeria.

“It has long been said teachers’ rewards are in heaven. That must change. Teachers should receive adequate rewards for their service here on earth,” he added.

According to him, teachers are vital to students’ success, and without proper motivation, academic performance will continue to decline.

He assured that ACAOSA would sustain interventions, promising more training sessions addressing both educational and social issues affecting students.

Mr Abdulsatar Omolola, ACAOSA deputy national president, said the association invested heavily in hiring consultants to deliver the training in a conducive environment.

Omolola explained that 50 teachers from both schools under the Anwar-ul-Islam Movement were trained to further cascade the knowledge to colleagues.

Educational consultant Mr Jamiu Mustapha, speaking on lesson delivery, stressed the need for measurable objectives for every concept taught in class. (NAN)