2 USA based foundations, Anambra Education Ministry train 66 counsellors on ecology

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Two USA based non profit making Foundations, Life Care Coalition Outreach, LCCO, and Igwe Davidson Okafor/Mercy Ikeanyi, IDOMI, in collaboration with Anambra State Ministry of Education, have trained 66 guidance teacher counsellors to train other counsellors on ecological social emotional learning.

The teachers who were drawn from the 226 post primary schools in the state, are to train other counselors in the educational zones of the state to achieve emotional stability among the students for educational prowess.

In a two-day international training/ Workshop with the theme ” Envisioning an Ecological classroom to enhance knowledge in social- emotional learning in the capital city of Anambra, the organizers added that the program is an annual event in memory and sustainability of their father’s legacy who stopped at nothing to support and encourage people to take education seriously and have passion in touching life positively.

Speaking at the occasion, the coordinator, iDOMi, Chinedu Ikeanyi, who is son to late traditional ruler of Enugwu-Agidi in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state explained that it was part of their desire to fulfil the continuous calls from the successive governments for repatriation of their knowledge to enrich the society.

Ikeanyi, said that with social emotional learning, all the students would learn equally in diverse ways to impact positively in society because only those emotional sound could adapt to learning easily.

Responding, the LCCO Coordinator, Mrs Victoria Anago, explained that the programme would also empower counsellors to act as social workers in schools while improving the education system.

Anago added that the programme would instill in the teachers knowledge of improving in their subject teaching competence, while reaching out to all the students and make them access all the general education, improve their skills and capacities to become useful to society.

The Visiting speaker, Sevaughn Banks, professor of social Work, California state University, Stanislaus,Thurrock, California, argued that ecological classroom was among the many educational modals useful for addressing students learning and educational needs, while customising the school resources.

Also, the Director, Education Services, Anambra State Post-Primary School Service Commission, Mrs Onwuka Ogonna, commended the organisers, assuring that the State would sustain the partnership, as well as monitor the counselors to ensure they implement what they have learnt for improved education.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice President of COEASU, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Chuchil Okonkwo, hailed the initiative, noting that it would help teachers to improve in their teaching and learning in the changing world for impactful development..

The State chairman of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, DC Nwabunze said that the body had been consistent since 2004 to engage in this philanthropic service.

Nwabunze said that Ikeanyi has a huge passion to offer service to people across all sectors of life, “They are involve in health, environmental development and education sectors, the effort is commendable,” he stated.

Mrs Ogonna Onwuka, representing the Ministry of Education in post primary school said that the Ministry was solid and stood in support with LCCO and iDOMi good intentions for education growth in the state.

She listed the six educational zones in the state with number of schools under each zone as follows: Awka 64, Aguata 52, Nnewi 49, Onitsha 33, Ogidi 40 and Otuocha 26, stating that with good representation of all schools the knowledge garnered in the workshop would be reflected in all schools.

Reverend Sister Amaka Asike, from Handmaid’s Girls Secondary School Amansea, described the sacrifice made by the team just to teach counselors newest methods of relating profitably amongst the students as commendable.

Mrs Loretta Uzuagu, a participant from Aguata zone said that schools under Aguata were up to 52 and that counselors under the zone would be engaged in workshops so as to achieve the essence of the two training and workshop.

Mrs Chinwe Chukwuemeka from Otuocha zone said she learnt new skills that will aid their work effectively in communicating rightly with their rural students and commended the organisers for the thought of giving back to the society where they grew up before travelling to overseas.