By Kayode Idowu

The British Council has commended the improvement recorded in the quality of education and teacher development in Benue State, as it partners the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to train 150 teachers and headteachers.

The training, organised under the Strengthening Teachers’ English Proficiency (STEP) programme and School Leadership Capacity Building Workshop, commenced on Monday at Holy Family Primary School, Kanshio.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of English and School Education at the British Council, Fwanshishak Daniel, applauded the progress recorded in educational quality, pupil enrolment and teacher development in the state.

Daniel said the STEP programme was designed to improve teachers’ English language proficiency and professional capacity, while strengthening their communication skills and effectiveness in classroom interactions.

Declaring the training open, the Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr Margaret Adamu, commended the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia for prioritising teacher development through strategic partnerships.

Adamu said the state government had recorded notable progress in the education sector, including infrastructure upgrades, teacher professional development and the provision of school grants.

She described the partnership with the British Council to train 150 teachers and headteachers as a deliberate investment in the human capital needed to sustain the transformation taking place in schools across the state.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Benue SUBEB, Dr Grace Adagba, described the STEP programme as complementary to Governor Alia’s vision of promoting the welfare and continuous professional development of teachers.

Adagba disclosed that about 8,900 teachers had been trained between 2023 and date through various interventions.

She listed the programmes to include Stimulating Teacher Resourcefulness in Digital Education (STRIDE), Supporting Pedagogical Rigour in Networked Teaching (SPRINT), Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE), as well as Jolly Phonics training for teachers and learners conducted in partnership with Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), among others.

According to her, the interventions were aimed at equipping teachers with the skills and knowledge required to respond effectively to the changing demands of basic education.

Also at the event, the Chairman of the House of Assembly Standing Committee on Basic Education, Hon. Elias Audu, PhD, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Benue State Chapter, Comrade Levi Akura, commended the state government for its efforts to improve teachers’ welfare and professional standing.

In separate goodwill messages, they noted that teachers had faced significant challenges over the years and welcomed initiatives aimed at strengthening their capacity and improving their working conditions.

The STEP training is expected to run physically for five days for both teachers and headteachers, after which the participants will continue with online training for another 10 weeks.