Some teachers in Jigawa have commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the European Union (EU) for training 402 caregivers on the pre-primary education curriculum and the teachers’ guide.

UNICEF, in collaboration with the EU and Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), implemented the Education and Youth Empowerment (EU-EYE) project, designed to increase the number of boys and girls benefiting from safe and inclusive education.

The participants were drawn from 201 schools in Babura, Birnin Kudu, Garki, Hadejia, Jahun, Kafin Hausa, Kazaure, Kiri Kasamma, Kiyawa, and Maigatari Local Government Areas.

Some of the participants lauded the gesture, adding that it exposed them to the new teaching methodologies.

Umar Isyaku, head teacher, Zango Primary School in Birnin Kudu, said the exercise equipped teachers with new skills to impart relevant knowledge to the pupils.

He said the five-day exercise was an “eye opener,” stressing that the new teaching skills would enable the children to learn by themselves.

Sa’adatu Adamu, a teacher at Kauyen Maigwaram Primary school, said she learnt new skills to teach at Early Child Care Education (ECCE) and pupils in general.

She urged the agencies to expand the scope of the exercise to mobilise participation in the programme.

Usman Abubakar said the training exercise provided teachers with opportunities for self learning to enable them to discharge their duties diligently.

“We appreciate the organisers as the exercise rebounded our skills by putting us through the revised ECCE curriculum,” he said.

Another teacher, Isa Waliyy, said he learnt the revised curriculum, circle time, and a variety of learning areas for children, which have to do with the way their minds operate.

“I also realised the importance of letting the children learn through plays as it’s the best way to allow them to learn as against our old method of teaching under strict guidance and monitoring,” he said.

Similarly, Babayo Shuaibu described the training exercise as a new experience for the teachers, who are eager to return to schools with new teaching skills.