Bauchi SUBEB laments low turnout of teachers at training programme
The Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board, BASUBEB, has expressed disappointment over the low turnout of teachers and stakeholders at a capacity-building workshop organised in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC.
Declaring the three-day training open on Tuesday in Bauchi, the Executive Chairman of BASUBEB, Adamu Mohammed, said about 130 head teachers, principals, and planning and statistics officers were expected to participate in the exercise.
Mohammed frowned at the poor attendance and warned that the Board would sanction those who failed to attend.
“I’m not happy with the number of participants present. You are not more than 70 now, out of the 130 expected. I don’t know if it’s lack of interest or negligence, but this is discouraging,” he said.
“I will not approve allowances for the full number when only half are here. Call me any name, but I’m embarrassed.”
He, however, commended those who attended the programme and the facilitators for their commitment, urging all stakeholders to show greater dedication in subsequent exercises.
According to the chairman, the training was designed to equip teachers with modern techniques and enhance their technical capacity to improve learning outcomes at the basic education level.
“The basic level is the foundation of the entire education system. If it is weak, the whole structure will collapse,” he added.
One of the facilitators, Prof. Lawan Abdulhamid of the WITS School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, said the training was aimed at boosting teachers’ confidence and competence in using technology to improve classroom delivery.
He noted that the initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide among schools and promote innovative teaching through interactive digital tools.
Prof. Abdulhamid also called on the Nigerian government to establish control mechanisms to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI, in the education sector and prevent possible abuse.
He cautioned teachers to be mindful of relying solely on AI-generated materials, advising them to prepare lesson plans manually to avoid misinformation that could undermine learning objectives.