- A
report on an important training event - May 2010
Introduction
The
participants during lectures
Together for Sudan in its endeavour to improve educational levels among
displaced communities in the Khartoum area, organized a training of
trainers (TOT) with an aim of upgrading their skills to enable them to
train other teachers. The main purpose of the training is to equip
teachers from South Sudan, Blue Nile, Darfur and the Nuba Mountains with
teaching skills which they will take back when they return to their
homelands and which will certainly contribute to the educational future
of women and children in their respective areas
The participants were selected from eleven self-help schools sponsored
by displaced people, mainly southerners and westerners, who live in
crowded squatter settlements on the outskirts of Khartoum.
Objectives
- To upgrade teachers’ techniques and skills in training implementation and management.
- To understand modern approaches of class control and school management.
- To promote the production and proper use of teaching aids.
- To recognize the relationship between pupils’ ages and interests.
- To improve teachers’ knowledge and skills of measurements and evaluation.
- To effectively identify training requirements in order to carry out training successfully.
- To be able to identify the equipment necessary for training.
- To know how Intelligence Quotient (IQ) links to acquisition of knowledge and skills.
Training Description
Some
of the teaching aids produced during the training
The training course was for twenty one days in modern training
techniques, planning and organization as well as development of teaching
aids. It was conducted by two trainers from the Ministry of Education
(Khartoum State) who have experiences of directing different training
courses for primary and kindergarten teachers.
The training was conducted at the Together for Sudan office in Khartoum
from 5th May to 1st June 2010. Twenty five teachers were enrolled, but
only 17 attended to the end. Of the 17, four were female and thirteen
were male. A graduation ceremony was organized on the 2nd of June 2010
in which certificates were awarded to the participants.
Training Contents and Selection Criteria
- Training needs and techniques.
- Planning and organization of training.
- School Administration.
- Creative thinking.
- Training materials.
- Aspects and reasons of delayed learning.
- Individual difference and class management.
- Understanding of social and school environments.
- Teaching aids production.
The following criteria were used in selecting trainees:
- A university degree and at least two years teaching experience; or
- A Sudan secondary school certificate with teaching experience of at least five years;
- Fluency in Arabic language;
- A teacher in one of the Together for Sudan partner schools or another school in the settlements for displaced persons;
- At least twenty years old and not older than sixty; and
- Willing to remain in the teaching profession for at least three years after the training.
Monitoring
The
participants singing joyfully during graduation
Together for Sudan Deputy Country Coordinator (who is a trained teacher)
and the Assistant Project Coordinator monitored the day to day progress
of the training.
When the participants were asked how they felt about the training, they
said they are now able to give training in all aspects, including
teaching aids production, to other untrained teachers. The participants
also stated that the training was both well administered and well
organized. Moreover, the trainers were well qualified, making the
training pleasant and beneficial.
Methodology
The trainees were divided into four groups; Orange, Banana, Pineapple
and Mango. Each of the groups consisted of four members except the
fourth group which had five members. The methods used during the
training included: lectures, group discussion, role play and
presentation. In group discussion, one member of the group was selected
to present the group work and each trainee was given a chance to
question, clarify, or comment.
Practical work for development of teaching aids was also provided. Each
group was given particular tasks to do and then present to the class.
Other tasks were presented individually.
Lessons learned
We calculated that the best time for training is during the long
vacation when all the schools are closed and the teachers are completely
free. (April, May &June). However, ability to teach during those months
is constrained by travel by many teachers to the Nuba Mountains or South
Sudan to visit relatives.
Graduation day
Awarding
of certificates to the
participants
The closing session was attended by Together for Sudan Country
Coordinator Mrs. Neimat Hussein and other TfS staff, a number of guests,
including headmasters from the partner schools, and the two
facilitators, Mr. Yousif Mohamed Babikir and Abdelmoniem Kheralla Juma.
Some relatives and friends of the trainees also attended the ceremony.
The representative of the head teachers Mr. Alteib Abuhaniya, head
master of Heid Babikir basic school in Haj Yousif, made a speech in which
he praised TfS for the training opportunity and said that he has never
before seen or heard of a small organization like TfS doing such huge
work. He thanked TfS staff and urged them to exert more efforts to raise
the levels of education in the country.
Recommendations
The trainers recommended four participants as outstanding individuals
with a particularly high capability to train other teachers. They were:
- Niptone Sapana Juma
- Michael Karbino Samani
- Silvano Bamu Steward
- Suzan Phillip Lado
Appreciation
Together for Sudan would like to express its appreciation to ICING for supporting this very popular and highly useful project which is much needed by people in the internally displaced areas and which will help improve the lives and potential of thousands of children in the displaced communities.
List of the teachers who attended the training
The participants and the schools they are selected from
What you can do: Donations in any amount are much
appreciated. But please consider whether you are able to support work
such as this – and contribute to maintaining peace in Sudan – by
providing regular donations. Regular donations allow us to plan ahead
and work more effectively.
Contact us now :-
enquiries@togetherforsudan