By Aliyu DANLADI
The Principal, King’s College Lagos, Mr Isaac Kolawole, has called on stakeholders in the 109-year-old institution to assist with the provision of more interactive boards to enhance teaching and learning.
Kolawole made the appeal in on Sunday in Lagos.
The principal said an institution in the category of King’s College should be seen as a model in terms of academics and discipline and as such, must be equipped with all the 21st century teaching and learning aids.
He noted that with the interactive boards in place, the teachers would do less work, while allowing the students space for self-discovery with some guidance.
During our pre-resumption one week workshop organised for our teachers, I made a statement in quote, that I do not have teachers in this school.
“Not that I do not have competent teachers that will impart knowledge but rather I am looking at the emerging scenario in other climes in terms of the 21st century demand.
“The role of teachers is changing every day and teachers should see themselves as facilitators of learning and one of the tools that can assist them is being in tune with current trend.
“And that is where the interactive board comes in. During that one week workshop, we had a lecture whereby we brought in experts to take the teachers on how to use the board.
“Currently, about three of the classroom blocks already have that interactive board and this, we want to replicate in all the classes in a bid to make them 21st century compliant.
“And our ICT department is ready to equip the teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to operate the board at no cost,” the principal said.
He added that as a follow up to the development, the college had also sensitised the Old Boys, especially those in the Diaspora, on the need to assist in providing the boards as a way of giving back to their alma mater.
According to Kolawole, the college is also appealing to parents and other well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to join hands with the institution in its efforts to upgrade the infrastructure for a more improved teaching and learning environment.
He noted that besides providing facilities for conducive teaching and learning, the college was also stepping up its fight against bullying and indiscipline among the students.
“One of the things also discussed during that workshop was how to handle issues of indiscipline and bullying that is common among students. This will be achieved through close and constant interaction between the students and the teachers.
“We have zero tolerance for such here in this school, in fact gone are the days when such was the order of the day and so, we have made it clear to parents and the students as they resume for this new session,” he said.
The principal lauded the Federal Ministry of Education for recruiting and posting more teachers to complement the existing ones in the college.
According to him, the ministry has been magnanimous enough to recruit and post 19 new teachers to the college, but added that there were still shortfalls, especially in key subjects as English, Mathematics, Sciences and French.
He, however, said he was convinced that the ministry was working hard to ensure that some of the teachers of the core subjects engaged by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) would be absorbed on permanent basis.
Meanwhile, the PTA of the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, has said it had developed a web based application that would enhance a seamless and constant communication with parents.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Olisa Anene, also stated on Sunday that the app, which was already in the play store of android telephone sets had been programmed to give parents updates and other vital information about the welfare of their children and wards.
“We all know the power of communication and it is based on this that we decided to come up with this in order to carry the parents along in all we do.
“This app will provide parents with information on academic activities, school programmes, students’ performance bills and other information.
“But before then, our parents are enjoined to download the app and then contact us for the user name and password for them to start enjoying the service,” he said.
Anene noted that before now, one of the challenges that the institution had faced was that of poor information dissemination, especially with regards to the welfare of the children and wards.
He added that everything had been put in place for a peaceful commencement of the new academic session that would take off on Monday, Sept. 17, for all returning students.
