VP Kashim Shettima
Gombe and Bauchi State Governments have commended the office of the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, through the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for organizing training for Science, Technology, Mathematics and Agriculture (STEMA ) teachers in Senior Secondary Schools across the North East subregion to acquire digital and technical skills in teaching methodology for students.
The programme through Academic Support and Skills Enhancement Programme (ASSEP) project, is expected to cover many states of the federation.
The occasion took place simultaneously in Gombe and Bauchi states, even as Borno and Yobe have also benefited from the exercise, while Adamawa and Taraba states will soon benfit.
In her opening remarks, the ASSEP Focal Officer in Gombe, Mrs. Lami Garkuwa, highlighted the importance and objectives of the ASSEP training.
She explained that the training was designed to strengthen teachers’ capacity in the use of learner-centered methodologies, improve classroom management skills, enhance the teaching of STEMA in schools, promote the use of innovative and technology-driven instructional approaches, and improve learning outcomes among students.
She encouraged participants to pay close attention and actively engage throughout the sessions.
In his goodwill Message, the Director, School Services, Ministry of Education, Yusuf Muhammadu expressed great pleasure and optimism at the gathering, noting that the event was not merely the opening of a training programme, but the opening of opportunities for thousands of children across Gombe State.
He described the Academic School Support and Skills Enhancement Programme (ASSEP) as “more than a workshop, but rather a platform that equips teachers with practical tools to positively transform lives”.
He emphasized that the programme was designed to equip teachers with 21st-century skills needed to transform classrooms into centres of excellence.
Also in her address, the Bauchi State Focal Person of ASSEP, Haj. Ladi Hamma, appreciated the facilitators for their commitment to teacher development and noted that their efforts aligned with the vision of providing quality, inclusive, and equitable education for all.
“ASSEP is an initiative focused on improving the quality of education in senior secondary schools. The programme aims to enhance teacher effectiveness, boost student learning outcomes, and promote modern teaching practices aligned with 21st-century standards in the six (6) States of North-East Geo-Political Zone.
“ASSEP in collaboration with North East Development Commission organized a two (2) day training aimed to equip 100 selected STEMA teachers across twenty (20) selected post basic schools in Bauchi State with practical skills and modern teaching strategies”. Hamma explained.
In her brief remarks, the SSA to the President on NEDC and Regional Development, Office of the Vice President, Dr Mariam Masha, explained that the initiative, is a joint partnership between the commission and the Office of the Vice President, which serves as a localized cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Masha noted that in prioritizing human capital development, the program aims to bridge the educational gap in the North East and equip the next generation with the technical skills necessary for a 21st-century economy.
Furthermore, the Personal Assistant on Domestic and Northeast Affairs to the Vice President and a member of Project Implementation Team (PIT) ASSEP, Comrade Mahmud Muhammad expressed delight for Gombe and Bauchi State Governments “to key into the programme aims at enhancing teachers’ ability to integrate technology into their teaching methods, as part of a broader effort to boost education in the region”.
With this move he added, “teachers in the benefiting states are expected to leverage digital tools to make learning more interactive and engaging for students”.
