By Isaac Mission
The Abia State Government has commenced specialised training for teachers as part of preparations for the reopening of its technology-driven public schools.
The training began on Thursday at the newly completed Umuomaiukwu Smart School in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.
Blue Giraffe Development Ltd., which is facilitating the exercise, said the programme is designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and practical skills required to operate in modern, technology-supported classrooms.
The training focuses on student-centred learning and the effective use of digital tools, with particular emphasis on communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Giraffe Development Ltd., Orieji Okwara-Emele, said teachers would play a critical role in ensuring that the Smart Schools programme achieves its objectives.
She explained that the initiative was designed to move classroom instruction away from excessive reliance on memorisation and towards methods that encourage students to use technology to find, understand and apply information.
According to her, the programme is based on 21st Century Pedagogy and blended learning techniques, which place greater emphasis on active participation and practical learning.
Teachers, pupils to receive digital tools
Okwara-Emele disclosed that participating teachers would be provided with laptops and trained in the use of interactive Smart Boards.
She added that pupils would have access to tablets for classroom activities, while their learning would include age-appropriate exposure to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, coding and virtual reality.
She noted that the training would not end after the initial exercise, saying Governor Alex Otti had directed that teachers should undergo continuous learning and periodic updates.
Okwara-Emele also linked the initiative to the state government's increased attention to education, including its allocation of 20 per cent of the state budget to the sector.
She urged parents to ensure that their children attend school regularly and make full use of the opportunities available under the Smart Schools programme.
20 Smart Schools planned across Abia
The Umuomaiukwu facility is one of 20 fully digital public primary schools being developed by the Otti administration across the state's 17 local government areas.
The school is reportedly among the largest facilities completed under the programme, coming after the Ubakala Smart School.
One of the instructors, Victoria Ikedichi, said the opening phase of the training focused on communication, collaboration and the practical application of technology in teaching.
She stressed that providing modern facilities would only achieve its purpose if teachers were adequately prepared to use the technology effectively.
Ikedichi said teachers must become comfortable with digital tools so they can prepare pupils for an increasingly technology-driven society.
For newly recruited teachers participating in the exercise, the programme represents a significant departure from conventional classroom methods.
One participant, Ruth Udeonye, described the Smart Schools initiative as a major development, saying she expected the training to improve her computer skills and enable her to effectively use the laptops and other digital resources that would be provided.
Another participant, Emmanuel Nwagbara, described the training as a major improvement in the state's approach to teaching.
He said the use of information and communication technology would allow teachers to provide students with faster access to knowledge and reduce dependence on traditional blackboard-and-chalk instruction.
The training is part of the state government's broader effort to prepare teachers and pupils for technology-based education as the Smart Schools programme expands across Abia State.