By Angela Atabo
Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an NGO supporting the work of the United Nations in peace education, have trained teachers in FCT to implement peace and character education in schools.
Rev. George Ogurie, Sub-Regional Director, Universal Peace Federation West Africa, and Universal Peace Federation (UPF), said this on Tuesday at the Teachers Training Workshop on Peace and Character Education for Pilot Schools in the FCT.
Ogurie said the workshop, organised by UPF in collaboration with FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), would hold from Aug. 22 to 31.
He said teachers were selected from 20 pilot schools within the FCT to run a pilot programme with the use of UPF Peace and Character Education materials developed and adapted for Nigerian schools.
“Our aim is to train 120 teachers per state, so if you multiply 120 by 37 that is 36 states plus the FCT, that will be 4440, then add another 120 teachers that will be trained as state coordinators around the country.
“It will be a total of 4560 teachers that will be trained on character education in order for us to have enough people on ground to spread this message of character for leadership in the country.
“We realised that there is a gap between character and learning, when we graduate from school, we are told that we have been found worthy in character and in learning to be able to receive the certificates of graduation that we received.
“However, when you see practically what’s going on in our country, and I should say in the world in general, there is a gap between character and learning.
“Learning okay, but character is a problem.’’
According to Ogurie, the reason for the problems in the society today is because the aspect of character is missing in the education system and that is the gap the UPF wants to meet up.
He said that the training would be the first of such an extended workshop aimed at raising competent teachers that would be available to implement peace and character education in the pilot schools.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Andrew Adejo, commended UPF for the initiative, adding that the gesture would go a long way to help the children imbibe good character and peace culture.
Adejo, represented by Mr Fehintola Moses, Chief Education Officer, Federal Ministry of Education Support Services Department, expressed hope that the aim of the project would be achieved.
“This is a great project and I assure you of the ministry’s support,’’ he said.
A representative of Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Esther Omaka, Deputy Director, UBEB, congratulated the teachers for being selected to run the project.
Omaka asked that the gesture should be extended from primary level up till the secondary school level to the catch the children young and build their consciense for good purposes.
Alhaji Leramoh Abdulrazaq, Acting Secretary for Education, thanked UPF for valuing education to contribute greatly towards molding the minds of children.
Abdulrazaq, represented by Mrs Magdalene Uzoanya, Director, Department of School Services, said, “This shows how dearly you value education .
“The easiest way to get to the family is through teachers. Learners value teachers more than their parents, especially at the primary school level.
“So I believe it is not by accident that you are starting with the teachers because the message is not just going to the grassroots, area councils represented here, but we are catching them young at the formative years.’’
A representative of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Tessy Nnalue, Director Orentation and Behavioural Modifications, thanked UPF for equipping children with the tools they needed to become responsible, compassionate and ethical individuals.
A participant, Mrs Glory Imeh, from National Model School, Shepa, Abuja, said the training was top notch and necessary to tackle moral decadence in schools.
“ I am going to impact the knowledge to my pupils so that they can be of good character anywhere they find themselves, so I am so happy to be here .
“It is a nice programme and the effect is going to be a very positive one because children seem to do away with their morals today, so by the time this programme is taught to them, it will have a very positive impact on them.’’(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman