Teachers Participation Center and Panel on Promoting Cross-learning and a Community of Practice around Teacher’s Leadership in School Safety in Nigeria
The dRPC, through the Teacher Development pillar on Gender-Based Violence of its Safe Girls in Safe Schools Project funded by Ford Foundation, has supported the 2023 TRCN Annual Conference themed: ‘Promoting Community of Practice among Nigerian Teachers for Effective Service Delivery’.
The dRPC supported the 2023 TRCN conference by hosting three Teachers’ Participation Centers with a capacity of 100 teachers in 3 states in 3 geopolitical zones – Kano (North-West), FCT (North-Central) and Akwa Ibom (South-South). In line with this, the dRPC also hosted 3 Panel Discussions in each of the Teachers Participation Center titled “The Prospects of Introducing a School Code of Conduct to address cases of Gender Based Violence within the Basic Education Schools System – Promoting Cross-learning and a Community of Practices Around Teachers’ Leadership in School Safety.”
In the FCT, the center has the participation of 37 participants including teachers, government MDAs and CSOs.
The panel discussion recorded the participation of the Federal Ministry of Education represented by Mr. John Ogwuche (SSD Desk Officer), Mrs. Akeju Grace (TRC-FCT Coordinator), Mrs. Odinakachi Ahanonu (CSACEFA-Policy Advisor), Lami Tanko (Nigeria Union of Teachers) and moderated by Dr. Judith Giwa Amu (Senior Fellow on Education – dRPC). The discussion established that while the current code of conduct for teachers captures Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Schools with issues of gender addressed periodically during assembly, due to the current disturbing trends, a greater urgency and emphasis was required to specially direct attention to GBV. The role of the teachers as key custodians to children in addressing GBV which presents a major threat to safety while at school was re-emphasized.
All participants agreed there was a need to dedicate a chapter within the Teachers Code of Conduct to guide teachers on how to recognize, prevent and address GBV. Other resolutions from the panel included the need for more sensitization on the causes and forms of GBV in school for teachers (not only TRCN-certificated teachers but also for those who were not TRCN-qualified) who lacked the basic training in classroom methodology and teaching oedagogy in support of enshrining safer schools for Learners. Having an implementable Code of Conduct was vital because it spelled out laid down rules and regulations, accountability, and enforcement. The need for teachers to be well-armed with knowledge on what to do in cases of GBV was emphasized. It was agreed that a community of practice (CoP) was vital to provide an informal forum of engagement in which members bound by a specific commonality could rub minds and proffer directions on ways forward, share best practices and lessons learned in real time as might be required. Through the establishment of a Safe Schools COP, teachers can learn from each other’s experience and gain information to address relevant issues specifically in the area of Safe Schooling. Modalities such as the use of social media and beginning in smaller groups driven by determination and commitment to make an impact through sharing successes and sustaining membership can be continually encouraged were discussed.
Conference registration link:
https://unesco-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrd–qrjIvH9VtwFJv0XvtUJL3ZKkZmMK_#/registration
