The Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council commenced the training of last batch of 400 of the 1, 000 public school teachers being trained in the state.
NAN, reports that the collaboration for the capacity development programme was among the EDTF, British Council, Teachers Training and Registration and Certification Board.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five-day capacity building programme, Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa Government to build the capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof. Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration was aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students in the public primary and secondary schools in the state.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of farmer and so it is with our teachers. You need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, Chief Fidelis Agbiki, expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Emelah for his supportive role especially to the fund the programme.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days of the exercise.
He said, “This board will not operate on business as usual, but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
Dr Alice Atuwo, Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo.
Atuwo also commended the media for sustained reportage of EDTF activities which has shaped perception and support from the public.
Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government has shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve greater milestones within one year what took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self-development and access to school among others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in the state with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers were undergoing training at the State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama Area of the state.
