Global award winner tips Ugandan teachers

EDUCATION    TEACHERS

KAMPALA - When Brother Peter Tabichi took to the stage at the second teacher education symposium he asked fellow teachers to be professional, creative, and innovative if they are to cause meaningful transformation in society. 

Tabichi who is a $1 Million Global Teacher Prize winner 2019 says he decided to become a teacher because ‘'I saw first-hand how teachers could help people overcome serious problems."

Born 38 years ago, and teaching at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Kenya, Tabichi was inspired to become a teacher by his father's generosity with his pupils and his time. 

"I have been teaching for over 12 years. But it is my father's dedication to the community which convinced me that teaching was the most important job I could do," Tabichi says.

He attended the three-day symposium organized by the Ministry of Education and Sports as a keynote speaker last week.

The event ran under the theme; "The quality teacher for the 21st Century"

Because of his father's influence, he has been able to identify how it is important to be friendly to the children and learning from them. He shares the same advice to all the Ugandan teachers.

"You have to adapt and think on your feet to get the best out of a student. Education is not just about academic success. It is also about learning the values of community and harmony," Tabichi says.

Throughout his teaching career which included teaching in Uganda in 2012, Tabichi says he has seen that many pupils have different needs because of their different backgrounds. 

"That means you have to be creative. With great education, every child can strive to be the best they can be. This all starts with boosting students' self-esteem. That is why we have started clubs to allow children to see what they are good at be it drawing or singing helping them to grow in confidence and creativity," Tabichi says.

He highlights the importance of face-to-face contact and social activities in education which he notes are key in unlocking the potential of learners.

"Sometimes it means creating clubs for children so that the element of play is used in learning. In my school, we set up a Science Club, a Peace Club to bring diverse communities together, and a Talent Nurturing Club to help bring out the best in our students and build their self-confidence," Tabichi says.

Adding that communities, and the children within them, best succeed when people come together.

"It is why we need to give teaching its rightful place and make it an attractive profession for our best students. People have to know that teaching is a special vocation, a deep responsibility, and a task of huge importance," Tabichi says.

Tabichi who is also a champion of quality and equitable education in East Africa offered this piece of advice during his keynote address on Thursday 27 February 2020 at Silver Springs Hotel in Kampala.

"A good teacher should be a facilitator, be self-directed, must exhibit professionalism and above all must inspire learners," Tabichi said.

He encouraged Ugandan teachers to integrate 21st-century teaching techniques.

"Content knowledge is very easy to get from the internet or any other avenues. But things like values need to be instilled in the learners by the teachers because they can't get them from the internet. When teaching children, you don't tell them to be creative or responsible but you show them," Tabichi said.

He asked schools to embrace clubs like Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) clubs; agriculture clubs which enable children to acquire life skills.

Like in many schools in Uganda, Tabichi oversees classrooms of 70 or 80, which, means they are overcrowded classrooms. The pupils also learn in poorly equipped classrooms.

However, despite these challenges he has always, committed to seeing children are learning.

"There is no child you can categorise as a slow achiever, they all have the ability to excel if given the opportunity and if the teachers attend to each child as an individual during class time they will be great children," Tabichi said.

The symposium attracted all categories and levels of teacher educators producing teachers for Uganda's education system from pre-primary to University.

Charles Olen an instructor from GULU Core PTC revealed that he is inspired by Tabichi.

"He is a world figure and role model. What he has shared is achievable like emphasizing the formation of clubs and engaging children in creative activities," Olen said.

Jane Egau Okou the Commissioner Teacher Instructor Education and Training (TIET) at the education ministry explains that they invited Tabichi because of his inspirational achievement.

Egau said the main purpose of the Symposium is to reflect on Teacher Education Quality: past, present and future, so as to identify Gaps and Solutions for improving Teacher Education Delivery which embraces the International Standards.

"The symposium is like a mini-review of the TIET department. With this symposium, we want to focus on pedagogy. We want to improve pedagogy so that we produce better teachers," Egau said.

She revealed that in this era there is a need for teachers who prepare learners to work, to create and be innovative.

The symposium was closed by the State Minister for Higher Education John Muyingo.