By: Problyn John Alpha (Kono)
438 head teachers drawn from different schools in Kono District have benefited from a six day training to improve classroom practices and pedagogical skills in teaching and coaching organized by the Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission (TSC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education with support from the World Bank.
Speaking to our correspondent at the God is our Light secondary school in Koidu City where the training was held, the Kono District deputy District Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission Max Fallah Sengu maintained that since Monday 9th October to Saturday 14th October 2023, the aforementioned organizers brought together at least four hundred and thirty eight head teachers from various schools in Kono District for a training titled “TEACH AND COACH” for school leaders.
He intimated our correspondent that the objective of the training was that the above named organizers of the training have realized in the country that the educational system is the weakest where it’s strongest therefore he said the training was to add value to the school leaders and participants are expected to replicate the training knowledge in their respective schools in the District and the country as whole.
He said similar trainings were held across the country that was very important as it enhances the clarion call of quality education in the country. He therefore pledged his commission’s unwavering support for the enhancement of quality education in the country as the government of Sierra Leone is committed to the human capital development of the country by the promotion of quality education in the country.
He commended the participation of the participants during the training and urged them to maintain such performance, noting according to the facilitators the entire District visited with the training Kono District in terms of the selection of participants and their participation did extremely well.
Max Fallah Sengu told this medium that after the training they were going to do follow up to making sure that the objective of the training is met for the betterment of the learners.
He concluded by pleading with the learners and their parents to seize such opportunity for the benefit of themselves and the country as a whole.
Mohamed Mansaray was one of the facilitators of the said training, he told our correspondent that the observation and coaching in classroom situation training came as a result of a research which has proven that the head teachers are no longer observing and coaching their teachers while they teach as against the eleven teaching practices in the classroom.
He noted that the organizers of the training brought together the said participants to change the narratives of the outcomes of the aforesaid research thereby capacitating the head teachers who will in turn replicate the training knowledge in their respective schools for the good and betterment of quality education in the District and the country as a whole.
He said the training module which was observation and coaching treated the eleven teaching practices including it five topics which are: Time on learning, two point one respect for pupils, positive language student needs, Gender, Behaviour expectation ,objective, questioning, monitoring, adjustment and critical thinking with special reference to the five topics of the eleven teaching practices: Involving observation, teaching and learning circle ,maximizing time, ideal learning environment, effective teaching and learning and critical thinking.mr Mansaray urged the participants to replicate the training knowledge in their respective schools.
Mohamed Mansaray said the Training had school Quality Assurance Officers and DO’S for Teaching Service Commission so that they will be quarterly monitoring the head teachers trained in their various schools in the District.
Meanwhile, Solomon Brima head teacher United Methodist primary school at Motema in Nimikoro chiefdom Hannah Annie Kalorkoh head teacher seventh Day Adventist primary school at Kiabandu section in Koidu City on behalf of their colleague participants foremost underscored the importance of the training by thanking the government of Sierra Leone and its partners for organizing the training, noting the training has widely opened their eyes and minds to things they never knew in the teaching field.
According to them the training knowledge drastically reduced what they called drop out from schools.
Whilst pledging their unflinching support to effect effective teaching for the enhancement of quality education the participants of the training who spoke to this medium urged parents and guardians to be monitoring the academic work of their children or wards.
They maintained that the outcome of the training will in no doubt effect quality education, the retention of pupils in schools and modelling of the attitude of teachers for effective and quality service delivering and mutual respect.
They faithfully promised replicating the training knowledge in their respective schools by implementing the following four qualities: Classroom observation, coaching, the teacher teaching circle and District level review. Mr Solomon Brima and Madam Hannah Annie Kalorkoh thanked the organizers for such informative and educative training implored them to be holding similar trainings as a way of refreshing their minds.
