Benin City – The Edo State Government has disclosed plans to recruit 1,000 new secondary school teachers and train 650 others on digital teaching methods.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe said this during an interactive session with journalists on the preparedness of the Ministry of Education for the 2022/2023 academic calendar in the State.

She noted that the ministry has been engaged in a series of planning, stakeholders engagements and town hall meetings to improve the education sector.

Hailing Governor Godwin Obaseki for his relentless commitment to improving the quality of education in the state, the Commissioner said, “We thank the governor for his effort in re-enacting education in the State, covering the full spectrum from basic to tertiary education.

“In partnership with UNICEF, we will roll out digital learning in our secondary schools, commencing with 40 pilot schools. 650 teachers will be trained in digital learning this August ahead of resumption in September.

“This year, we have concentrated our efforts on Senior Secondary Education reforms and to consolidate on the gains made in the last three years on basic education. We are expecting to receive from the Committee working on employment of 1,000 shortlisted teachers in the first phase and they will be deployed to our schools. These teachers will focus more on English and Mathematics.”

Oviawe said EdoBEST 2.0 Secondary School reform is intended to have an impact on students’ learning and school administration in three key areas namely academic improvement, co-curricular activities and school governance.

“We have introduced social impact day where NGOs, churches and other organisations will have the opportunity to hold seminars and interactive sessions with our students. Also we will now have teachers’ appreciation day where our teachers will also be appreciated for their sacrifices. Excursion, inter house sports is now compulsory in our schools.”

The Commissioner said following the directive from the governor and deputy governor to develop sports in the state, the principal cup will be revived.

On her part, Unit Head of Curriculum and Learning Standard in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Euro Ugiagbe presented the harmonised academic calendar,
back to school list, uniform scheme of work in all subjects, guidelines for every classrooms, library, and uniform timetable for upper and lower basic including technical schools, among others to the commissioner for full implementation for the next academic year.