EDUCATION NOT ONLY ABOUT TEACHING, LEARNING, BUT POSITIVELY IMPACTING HUMAN LIFE – COMMISSIONER
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos State, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun has opined that education is not just about teaching and learning in the classroom, but about positively impacting the totality of human life.
Alli-Balogun stated this while speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day capacity building seminar organised for Year Tutors, Heads of Schools and Stakeholders in Lagos State, held at Government Girls’ College, Agege, Lagos on Tuesday.
He noted that the seminar was organised by the State Examinations Board to sensitise participants on the conduct of the school based and non-school based examinations, such as Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Placement Test by Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS), Public Service Examinations (PSE), Screening Test into Model Colleges and Upgraded Junior Secondary Schools and Trade Test.
While answering questions from participants on the hours spent in the school, the Commissioner said that the extra one hour added to the normal closing time is meant for reading and extra-curricular activities by students.
He further stated that the school is not for teaching and learning in the classroom alone, but also for moulding the totality of the lives of students for a better tomorrow.
The Commissioner emphasised that teachers should take cognizance of the three domains of education including the Cognitive, the Affective and the Psychomotor, noting that these are a variety of methods in professional development aimed at promoting mindsets and behaviours that enhance the learning process and create a culture of career and life readiness for every student.
Alli-Balogun also stressed the importance of having a mutual and friendly relationship between the teachers and students, adding that such a relationship would give the students a sense of belonging.
He, therefore, urged the teachers to apply what they had learnt in relation to Guidance and Counseling for the students to discover and develop their educational, vocational and psychological potentials to attain optimal level of social usefulness.
He also charged the teachers to improve on their attitudinal and behavioural conduct, pointing out that teachers must be friendly with members of their immediate communities.
Stressing that teaching is not about coming to the classroom alone, the Commissioner pointed out that the approach of teachers to members of their communities could add value to the teaching profession.
Alli-Balogun expressed appreciation to the present administration in the State led by Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for its commitment to ensuring quality education in Lagos State.
About 500 participants drawn from the Six Education Districts of the State participated in the two-day seminar organised by the Lagos State Examinations Board.