…As 400,000 Professional Teachers’ Register To Participate In TRCN Conference

The Registrar,  Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, (TRCN) Prof. Josiah Ajiboye has lamented the hardship brought to the education sector by the outbreak of Covid-19  pandemic.
The Registrar who said this at a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja, stated that the crisis led to about 63 million primary and secondary teachers around the world being affected by school closures in 165 countries. 

He explained that the emergence of Covid-19 pandemic, threw up new challenges in teaching and learning across the world, forcing many of the stakeholders into uncertainties. 

While the pandemic takes its toll on world economies and social lives, many were forced to adopt online learning to bridge the gap. 

In Nigeria, he said though states and other education practitioners adopted different strategies to mitigate the impact of the virus on the sector, some of which involved application of digital technology, many were faced with the stark reality of lack of internet connectivity as well as Iack of requisite skills by teachers. 

“In private schools, many teachers faced uncertainties regarding their employment and wages, some salaries were cut or stopped. Some other teachers were under pressure to deliver learning and support their learners, whereas they equally needed socio-emotional support. 

“Hence the need to examine the fallouts of the pandemic and prepare teachers to build back better in order to face future emergencies. We must also devise more context specific strategies that promote learning for all rather than widen the gaps against disadvantaged populations, “he stated.  

It is in the light of this that The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN has concluded arrangements to organise a two day workshop to glean ideas on how  teaching and learning can be sustained in Covid-19 era. 

Organizers of the event which have already confirmed registration of over 400,000 participants, noted that it will hold between January 26-27,2021 through virtual processes. 

The event is also open to registered teachers’ who are not practicing at the moment. 

He noted that these emerging challenges which Covid-19 sprang up necessitated the conference, where experts, from the academia and professional bodies would converge to expose ways for seamless learning in an era of the virus. 

He explained that the theme for the conference is centred on: “Teaching and Learning in the Context of Covid-19 and Other Emergencies Implications For Teacher Professional Development”.