Build teachers capacity on family life – UNESCO urges FG

Participants at the workshop

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has urged the Federal Government to sustain the training of teachers on Family Life HIV Education (FLHE) in order to address Gender Based Violence.

The National Programme Officer on Education, UNESCO, Ms Ngozi Amanze, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Amanze, who spoke after a four-day workshop to develop the FLHE Lesson Plans said that sustaining the training would also address early pregnancy and ensure a well-informed society.

The initiative is under UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our lives, Our Future (O3 Programme), an adolescent and young people’s education for health and wellbeing project.

”Some of these life changing projects, when there are no enough funds to drive them becomes moribund, so, we are calling on the government to ensure its sustainability.

”They have taken a very good move to incorporate it in the school curriculum, but teachers need to be trained as they are the major capacity implementor; they are key to ensuring a successful FLHE,” she said.

The programme officer said that 50 teachers and representatives of various Ministries Department and Agencies as well as non-governmental organisations participated in the workshop.

According to her, the workshop is aimed at building the capacity of participants with vital and appropriate information on FLHE topics and how to deliver them to the students.

She added that the training would also aide in eroding myths and misconceptions on FLHE.

“Part of what we do is to build the capacity of parents, teachers, guardians and relevant stakeholders to understand what FLHE is all about.

“And support the children to have informed knowledge on accurate information, informed decision that can make them to be able to deal with life choices and the consequences of what they do to them and people around them.” she said.

Malam Taller Danbazau, Assistant Director, Education Support Service, Federal Ministry of Education advised the participants to share knowledge learnt at the training with colleagues and students.

Danbazau, commended UNESCO for its support, reiterating the commitment of the government toward improving education standard in the country.

Also Mrs Viko Martina, Chief Education Officer, National Teachers Institute (NTI) said the FLHE programme would empower participants with appropriate skills.

“I urge the participants to step down this training to the grassroots, because there are lots of misconceptions by families and communities on FLHE.

“Because it is mainstreamed into the curriculum, at the end of this workshop, we will have a document that will be usable and impactful to the students,” she said.

Also, Mrs Mabel Babatomi, Senior Education Officer, Teacher’s Development, Universal Basic Education Commission also called on participants to share knowledge gained from the training with others.

One of the participants, Ms Grace Mba, a teacher from Abia said that the workshop had empowered her with knowledge on delivering accurate information, age and context appropriateness on FLHE.

Mba said that the training would help teachers to translate the curriculum into learning activities and equip students with the skill and competencies to make informed decisions. Source,:(NAN)