The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged teachers and administrators of Nigerian Army schools to work toward the repositioning of the schools to enhance quality of teaching and learning in the schools.
Buratai, gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja, at the closing of the four-day Workshop for Nigerian Army Education Corps Officers on Instructional and Professional Skills, organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
The workshop, which has “Improving Class Teachers’ Instructional and Professional Skills for Enhanced Students’ Performance” as its theme, was organised in conjunction with DEVTARG Ltd.
Buratai, who was represented by the Army’s Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, said that the workshop was a demonstration of his desire to revamp Nigerian Army schools for the children and coming generations.
He urged the participants to use the knowledge gained from the workshop for academic excellence, discipline and overall performance of their various institutions and the effective management of Nigerian Army schools.
He said that there was a clear understanding that the doctrine and principles of education were continuously changing, adding that army schools could not afford to either retrogress or be stagnant.
According to him, teachers and administrators of army schools must adapt to the changes in knowledge base, administration of their institutions and global developments.
“Education has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while its fallouts will be felt in years to come.
“To overcome the negative impact will require constant updating of methods, ideas and knowledge in the realm of education, not only in Nigeria or locally but also on the international scene, to make progress and exit the melancholy brought upon the whole world by the pandemic.
“It is, therefore, my sincere hope that the training from the array of resource persons will be valuable, as you strive to reawaken your own interests and raise the fallen standards in your schools for improved instructional skills and sound administration.
“You have an unparalleled responsibility of developing the young boys and girls placed in your care.
“This in itself is one of the greatest trusts that can be placed on any individual in any part of the world.
“You have the responsibility of moulding and developing the future leaders of this great country.
“You cannot afford to fail and must, therefore, strive to deliver on the responsibilities legally imposed on you.
“As teachers and administrators, you must, therefore, be knowledgeable, morally upright and selfless in service to the individual students, the service and the nation at large,” he said.
Maj. Uwaif Ikpekhia, who spoke on behalf of the participants, said that the officers had gained appreciable knowledge that would help them to perform optimally.
Ikpekhia said that the training had adequately equipped the teachers and administrators of army schools to become professionals in their fields of assignment and motivate students to learn.
He thanked the COAS for the privilege given to them to benefit from the training and pledged that the knowledge they acquired would be deployed to enhance the standard of army schools.
