The Yobe State Government on Wednesday said it has subjected the 450 newly employed teachers to special training to enhance their professional competence to global standards.

The Head of Civil Service, Tonga Betara, said this while declaring a two-day training open in Damaturu.

He said that the training was organised in collaboration with his office and Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua.

“From Classroom to Career: Essential Training for New Teachers in Yobe State” commenced on Tuesday in Damaturu, with 450 participants drawn across the state,” the head of service said.

He said the initiative was part of the government’s strategic efforts to revitalise the sector and ensure effective service delivery in line with the vision of the current administration.

“Education in Yobe has suffered immensely due to insurgency, with many school structures destroyed and teachers lost in the process,” Mr Betara said.

He recalled that Governor Mai Mala Buni, upon assumption of office in 2019, convened an education summit which led to key reforms in the establishment of an education trust fund.

Other initiatives are the construction of mega schools,  enhancement of the girl-child, IDP education, school feeding, the provision of modern learning materials, free tuition, and environmental reforms.

“This administration is working to reposition education to meet global standards,” he said.

The head of service said that the workshop would equip new teachers with modern methodologies for imparting knowledge, stressing the importance of punctuality, active participation, and collaboration in the sessions.

“Teachers must be well prepared to make significant contributions to the improvement of education in Yobe,” he added.

Also speaking, the Provost, College of Education, Gashua, AbdulRahman Danladi, commended the state government for its commitment to educational development.

“We thank Governor Mai Mala Buni for making this workshop a reality and for recognising the role of teacher training in transforming the education sector,” he said.

Mr Danladi said that teaching required more than the delivery of lessons, describing it as “a profession that demands continuous training, motivation, planning, assessment and mentoring.”

“Participants will be trained in topics such as the role of teachers in the 21st century, core qualities of effective teaching, lesson planning, classroom management, teaching methodology, and professional ethics,” he said.

He encouraged participants to fully engage with the master trainers to derive maximum benefit from the sessions.

One of the participants, Bukar Bulama, expressed appreciation to the organisers, describing the training as timely and impactful.

“This workshop will significantly improve teacher performance and, in turn, enhance students’ learning outcomes,” Mr Bulama said.

The workshop began on Wednesday and ends on Thursday.

He said this forms part of the Buni administration’s broader agenda to rebuild and strengthen the state’s educational infrastructure.

 (NAN)