A total of 750 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers across Ogun State are undertaking training on new teaching methodology, aimed at consolidating government’s efforts towards accelerating educational development.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, who declared the training opened at Lisabi Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, said the Train the Trainers STEM capacity building organised by Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) would address some challenges in the education sector.

Arigbabu stated that the present administration had been systematic in tackling educational deficiencies, noting that the training would help re-engineer school curriculum and make it learner-centered, improve the education system to enable teachers to be valuable and marketable.

The Commissioner explained that OGSTEP, which became operational in 2020 has Progressive Mathematics Initiative and Progressive Science Initiative (PSI-PMI model) for secondary schools as part of its goals for a new STEM teaching package, saying ’’the State government collaborated with World Bank to overhaul the skills development system and to enhance STEM teaching in secondary schools’’.

He said the training would  serve as an avenue for teachers as master trainers and would be cascaded to others, urging the participants to rise to the herculean task ahead and to change the narrative of STEM teaching and learning, as well as fill the gap created in the skills related industries and professions.

In their goodwill messages, the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, Evang. Olalekan Ifede and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye said STEM approach to education fosters creativity and inspires young ones to generate new technologies and ideas. The duo also emphasised the importance of training and retraining of teachers on best teaching practices.

In his remark, the Training Coordinator, Dr. Shola Odusanya said the training was a paradigm shift in teaching methodology, adding that it would encourage school-based training and develop problems solving ideas.

Speaking earlier, the Project Coordinator, OGSTEP, Mrs. Mosun Owo-Odunsi described the initiative as forward thinking, designed to enhance the quality skill of teachers for improved STEM teaching, charging the participants to make good use of the training to upskilled their learners.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Orenuga Ezekiel and Mrs. Sobowale Roseline appreciated the government for the training, saying academic performance and standard would tremendously improve with the training experience.