The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Prof. Opuenebo Binya Owei has reiterated the importance of teachers in the development of every nation and the future of her generation.
Delivering a Keynote Address on the topic “The Place of the Classroom Teacher in National Development” at the 2019 Annual Teaching Practice Orientation held on Monday 9th September, 2019 at the Institution’s Amphi Theatre, the Acting Vice-Chancellor stated that it is in recognition of this all important role of teachers in nation building that October 5th of every year is celebrated as World Teacher’s Day.
Prof. Owei noted that the essence of teaching is to make students look like the teacher, think out a problem, execute a plan to solve the problem and bear consequences for whatever action they take, explaining that this scenario which shapes the life of the students, can make or mar any society.
According to the Acting Vice-Chancellor “… no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers… Think back when you were in school – from primary, secondary to date. Who was your favourite teacher? We all have at least one teacher who changed our lives, inspired us to what we are today.”
Concluding, the representative of the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Director of Sports, Prof. Joseph Vipene charged the students to teach with passion and communicate effectively with the students, parents and staff team in the school they will be posted to do their Teaching Practice.
Speaking on the topic “The Lesson Plan an Evaluation of Students’ Teaching Practice Experience” the former Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Mackson Ahiakwo said that the Lesson Plan is very important for effective teaching, adding that the teacher in training that fails to plan before entering the class to teach, has already planned to fail.
On his part, the Head of Department of Vocational and Technology Education, Dr. A. U. Nnodim who spoke on “The Student Teacher’s First Day in School” called on the students to attend the school’s devotion and thereafter report to the Principal who will assign a course to them, warning that they should not accept any course they are not grounded in.
