Lagos charges teachers to solve problem of obsolete textbooks with technology

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday charged teachers in the state’s public schools to use technology to address the problem of use of obsolete textbooks in schools.

Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke said this at the opening ceremony of a 3-day training programme tagged: “Teachers Instructors,” organized by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with Messrs Proswiftcare Trainers held at LCCI Training Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

According to him, technology could help in addressing one of the most urgent problems in schools today, which “is the problem of reliance on obsolete textbooks that are not regularly updated.

“Some reports say that students sometimes continue to use textbooks that are up to 10 years old. This is not acceptable and technology can help in ensuring the timely updating of academic information because updating software and educational content is not as expensive or cumbersome as updating textbooks. With the help of technology, course curriculum can reflect real world data and in some applications, students can be exposed to real-time information.”

Oke said teaching had become easier and yet, more difficult because of the ubiquitous availability of communications technology, stressing that while some forms of these technologies might constitute distractions, there was broad consensus that, if properly harnessed, the adoption of communications technology in an educational is advantageous in a number of ways.

“Thus, the question that confronts the 21st century policy makers is the extent to which existing and rapidly evolving technologies should be adopted and utilized to facilitate the communication between a teacher and his/her students.

“Technology ensures that students, classrooms, schools and teachers can be connected to anyone in the world instantly. Devices coupled with the Internet can allow for a free way to communicate globally. The opportunity to understand international or different cultural perspectives on the same topic is invaluable and incredible,” he said.

The commissioner said it was for these reasons that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode resolved to prepare and equip teachers for the challenges and excitement of adopting modern communication tools and methods of delivering instructions in the classroom.

“As the ones entrusted with our children’s future, this government places huge premium on the training of teachers. Our teachers must be properly trained and subjected to continuous training such that our schools and the products of our educational system will rank among the best in the world.

“I implore you to reciprocate this kind gesture by rededicating yourselves to the core values of this noble profession, participate actively, eschew indiscipline, disloyalty and nonchalant attitude, utilize what you have learnt in your various schools to enable you be at par with your colleagues in the private sector,” he said.

Executive Director, Proswiftcare Trainers, Dr. Niran Fafowora, said the training was meant to enhance the efficiency of public school teachers in the use of technology to impact knowledge on school children.