The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with the Bayelsa Ministry of Education, is training 1,445 teachers in digital pedagogy and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve teaching and learning.

Esther Ikenye, UNESCO Programme Assistant, Esther Ikenye, stated this on Tuesday at the second phase of the master trainers’ training in Yenagoa.

The theme of the programme is: “Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria: Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems to Build Teachers’ Capacity and Resilience.”

According to Ms Ikenye, the programme was designed to strengthen teachers’ professional competence, and promote inclusive and technology-driven education.

She said that 40 master-teacher trainers were being trained to step down the programme to 1,445 nominated teachers from November 16 to 21.

The programme assistant said that the training would take place at designated centres in Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas.

“Participants will also continue learning online through self-paced modules after the physical training,” she said.

Ms Ikenye further said that the programme would equip teachers with the practical skills to use digital tools and AI in lesson planning, learner engagement, assessment and classroom management.

She encouraged teachers in Bayelsa and other parts of the country to register on the system’s online learning portal to access the free modules, and obtain certificates after successful completion.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Gentle Emelah, said that the training was designed to improve teachers’ knowledge and capacity in AI and digital teaching methods.

Represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Monday Ake, Mr Emelah said that teachers had a responsibility to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills needed to compete academically with their counterparts.

Amember of the Innovation and Instructional Technology Department, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja, Adam Sadiq, described digital pedagogy and AI as emerging areas in teaching and learning.

He said that many children were growing up as digital natives, and that it was necessary for teachers to acquire the skills to engage them effectively.

“Teachers need digital pedagogy and AI competencies to understand and respond to the learning needs of children in an increasingly technology-driven environment,” he said. 

(NAN)