In our ever-evolving world dominated by innovation and technology, the need to adapt swiftly and enhance existing educational mechanisms is paramount. Teachers are the key players in how we learn. They have a big impact on everything. Yet, for this influence to yield positive outcomes, continual improvement through pre-service and in-service training is indispensable. Without a well-qualified and continuously evolving educator, the educational product produced is likely to be subpar—a malfunctioning, defective output.
The repercussions of inadequately trained teachers reverberate throughout students’ lives, manifesting as challenges in their future endeavors. Unless inherently gifted, students may develop a dislike for studies, discontinue their education prematurely, or graduate with an academic record devoid of the essential skills required for their professional lives. While exceptions exist, they are notably scarce.
A noteworthy initiative addressing this critical issue is the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) Teacher Training Initiative (TTI). This regional endeavor, supported financially and technically by the Government of Germany through GIZ, focuses on training teachers responsible for educating both refugee and host community children in secondary schools.
Our commitment to teacher training stems from the belief that enhancing teachers’ capacity through continuous learning and exposure to subject matter expertise, pedagogical methods, and psychosocial skills is pivotal for career success. These acquired skills, in turn, are anticipated to enhance learning experiences and elevate the overall quality of educational outcomes. Simply put, training teachers matters, and IGAD underscores the pivotal role teachers play as essential inputs for both quality education and regional stability.
The IGAD’s Regional Teacher Training initiative aligns with the Djibouti Declaration on education for refugees, returnees, and host communities. It responds to the Executive Secretary’s directive to ‘take IGAD to the people.’ This approach addresses the tangible and intangible needs of the population in the region, emphasizing education as a cornerstone for sustainable development and stability.
A thematic direction embedded in this initiative is the pursuit of lasting peace. By empowering teachers with the tools to impart not only academic knowledge but also fostering social and emotional learning, IGAD aims to contribute to the cultivation of a generation adept at conflict resolution, empathy, and understanding. In recognising education’s role in building bridges between communities, the IGAD Teacher Training Initiative becomes a catalyst for lasting peace, promoting harmony in a region striving for stability and prosperity.
Read more about the IGAD Teacher Training Initiative:
https://igad.int/igad-teachers-training-initiative-in-displacement-affected-communities-in-the-igad-region/
