Inclusive Education Drive Gains Momentum as Ogbemudia Engages Edo Teachers

By Rosemary Okoduwa

With a strong emphasis on Child Psychology and Inclusive Education, the Edo State Government has commenced the training of over 3,200 teachers due for promotion, charging them to go beyond classroom instruction and become architects of character and inclusion in the lives of their students.

The exercise, held at Idia College, brought together teachers from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Edo State Senior Secondary Education Board (SSEB) and the Edo State Board for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET).

Delivering a lecture titled “Child Psychology and Inclusive Education,” guest speaker, Dr. Amen Ogbemudia who is also the DG Directorate of Education Quality and Accountability, DEQA, charged teachers to see their role as extending beyond academic instruction to shaping the total character of every child.

She thanked Governor Monday Okpebholo for what she described as his foresight in repositioning the education sector, noting that his leadership has earned national recognition, including a Governor of the Year in Education award. She also commended the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, for his proactive stance on educational reforms.

Dr. Ogbemudia emphasised that understanding child psychology is critical to effective teaching, stressing that learners come from diverse backgrounds with varying challenges. She recounted her experience during Safe School resumption monitoring, where some students disclosed that they trek for nearly an hour daily from Urhokhokho to Ugbinen, the nearest secondary school in their area.

According to her, such realities must inform teachers’ responses in the classroom. “A child who treks that distance may naturally feel exhausted or fall asleep in class. A teacher who does not understand the child’s situation may resort to punishment instead of empathy,” she noted.

To guide teachers in navigating these complexities, she introduced practical frameworks including SHINE, 6Cs, STAR, FINEBOY and FORBOY as tools for inclusive and value-driven teaching.
She explained that SHINE represents: Serve with standard, Handle learners with humanity, Include every child, Nurture values and skills, and Evaluate and improve continuously.

The 6Cs—Care, Connection, Consistency, Communication, Collaboration and Confidence—form the foundation, with confidence emerging when the first five are effectively practiced.

Similarly, STAR stands for Support, Teach, Adapt and Reinforce; FINEBOY represents Feelings, Individual needs, Empathy, Behaviour, Ownership and You; while FORBOY stands for Fairness, Observation, Relationship, Opportunity and You. She summed up the model in a simple formula: 6Cs + STAR + FINEBOY + FORBOY = SHINE.
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She noted that advancing quality education requires a deliberate focus on child psychology and inclusive teaching practices that recognise the unique needs of every learner. By understanding how children think, feel and develop, educators can create supportive learning environments where differences are embraced, barriers are reduced and no child is left behind. Through empathy, adaptability and structured support systems, teachers are better positioned to empower students academically, socially and emotionally, ensuring that every learner is given the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential, she concluded.

In his remarks, the Edo State Head of Service congratulated the beneficiaries and conveyed Governor Okpebholo’s firm commitment to the welfare of civil servants. He assured participants that under the present administration, civil servants would receive their entitlements promptly.

He noted that the governor’s recognition as Governor of the Year in Education underscores his administration’s dedication to revitalising the education sector and prioritising teachers’ welfare.

“It is important that every teacher, because of the value placed on them, is promoted as and when due. That is why this exercise is taking place today,” he stated.

Declaring the training open, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, described Governor Okpebholo as an education-focused leader determined to overhaul the sector to ensure access to quality education for all, particularly the less privileged.

He commended teachers for their dedication and sacrifices in nurturing students across the state, stressing that while government is investing in infrastructure and learning facilities, equal attention is being given to equipping and motivating teachers.

“As we build quality and conducive learning environments, we must also ensure that the teachers who man these schools are intellectually and technically equipped and motivated to deliver their best. A building without a teacher is an effort in futility,” he said.

Dr. Iyamu urged participants to regard their promotion as a call to higher responsibility, assuring them that career progression in the teaching profession would remain consistent under the current administration.

“We began by absorbing over 5,000 contract teachers into the service, and today we are training over 3,000 for promotion. This promotion is here to stay. Teaching is a noble profession, and what is due to you will be given,” he added.