From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State government has charged teachers to embrace Artificial Intelligence, AI, as a way to improve productivity and effective service delivery.
Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Professor Awo Nwobashi made the call Tuesday in Abakaliki during the official flag-off of a four-day workshop organised by Exchange Alumni tagged “AI for Educators.”
Addressing the team during their familiarisation visit, Professor Nwobashi described the programme as timely, adding that education ranked first in Governor Francis Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs administration.
Professor Nwobashi, who assured the team of government’s support, explained that AI technology remains one of the powerful innovations in computer advancement and called on teachers in Ebonyi State to embrace the new technology and leverage on it for improved productivity and effective service delivery.
The commissioner warned teachers in some primary and secondary schools against unnecessary backlash and threatened to sack any teacher who refuses to teach in all classes in their schools.
He noted that the state government is not resting on its oars in improving teachers welfare and assured them of the release of Gen-35 for those yet to get it, while pledging to release all entitlements including their promotion.
The Exchange Alumni Project Coordinator, Mrs Adamma Odefa said the programme is part of the American people’s programme aimed at giving back to the society, adding that it is necessary for teachers to embrace Artificial Intelligence as it remains one of the innovations that has come to stay.
She noted that the importance of AI cannot be overemphasized, noting that it would be impossible to perform any task in the nearest future without the technology and promised to bring participants together for a webinar as to ensure that the training is felt in the classroom by students.
“This is the second phase running in Kebbi and Ebonyi, and the idea is to make teachers more engaging and productive in their profession.
“I have been in a classroom where students seemed to know more than a lecturer and it was embarrassing.
“It is not just about the training as we are engaging those in Kebbi and Ebonyi after the training, they will be brought together where they will share ideas in the interest of the teaching profession with webinars to make sure that the impact is felt in the classroom.
“On behalf of my team and USA Exchange Alumni, I wish to encourage you to have a productive time with us”, Odefa said.
One of the resource persons, Mr Aniekene Simbad, who doubles as a Special Assistant to the Akwa-Ibom governor, thanked the Ebonyi State government for its contributions in the education sector and enjoined participants to remain focused throughout the period of the training and promised to make it impactful and educative.
However, the State President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Public Secondary Schools, ANCOPs, Mr Chukwu Emmanuel and the Principal of Ekumenyi Secondary School Okpuitumo, Mrs Joy Igwe thanked the team and state government for coming up with the programme and appealed to the state government to establish computer laboratories in all public schools to enable participants practice what they learnt during the training.
