The Faculty of Education,University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has held an orientation for its students going for teaching practice. Teaching practice is a requirement for the award of a Bachelor's degree in Education. AFIS ODEYEMI (300-Level History) reports.

Their readiness to impart knowledge could be seen in their enthusiasm as they filed into the auditorium.

Since they are being trained as teachers, the 300-Level students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Faculty of Education seemed ready to teach others everything they had learnt.

The school auditorium was besieged by the students for an orientation, which was part of the activities to prepare them for a 12-week compulsory teaching practice in line with the requirement for the award of Bachelor's degree in Education.

The event was attended by members of professional bodies, academics and stakeholders in teaching. A renowned education psychology scholar, Prof Olasehinde Williams, was the guest speaker.

Williams, who had an interactive session with the students, said the process of imparting knowledge must be holistic. She said if education must achieve maximum effect, it must furnish the learner with the right proportion of knowledge, valuable skills and improved attitudes for proper readjustment and general adaptation to his society.

Learning, she said, must involve an embodiment of three parts of the human body - head, hand and heart. While using Waldorf theory of educating a child to buttress her points, the scholar said: "Meaningful learning will take place only when the head, hand and heart are involved in every bit of learning process to stimulate the interest of the learner."

The chairman of the occasion and the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, represented by his deputy for Academics, Prof Nahimat Ijaya, urged the students to be peaceful and dutiful in their places of assignment, noting that students of the university were welcomed for teaching practice by schools.

The Dean of the faculty, Prof Alfred Adegoke, said the exercise was important to enable the participants acquire on-spot training in teaching. He said: "After you have had years of preliminary training in the university, the curriculum demands that you should also need to bring everything you learn to bear in practice. When you live university, you will be judged based on your performance on the job and not your qualification."

Adegoke, a professor of Counselor Education, urged the students show interest and dedicate their energy towards acquiring practical skills that would benefit their career. He advised them not to misrepresent the school by engaging in unwholesome conduct, saying: "You are the image of this university, because whatever you do during your teaching practice will come back at the university in one way or the other."

A students' group at the faculty, 21st Century Pedagogy, urged trainee-teachers to keep faith with the ethics of the teaching profession and contribute their quota to the development of education. The group decried the influx of untrained teachers in the country, which it attributed to reluctance of graduates of education to teach.

To encourage the students to give in their best and energy in teaching, the group presented certificates of excellence to honour some past participants of teaching practice.

Fisayo Falusi of the Department of Arts Education was honoured as Trainee-Teacher of the Year for his outstanding performance last year.

Coordinator of the group, Patrick Akorede, said there would be other mouth-watering benefits for subsequent awardees, noting that the aim was to dignify teaching profession.

A student, who gave his name as Sanni, hailed the guest speaker for her inspiring lecture, saying: "Prof Olasehinde Williams has just made the task of a 12-week teaching practice much easier."

The event was organised by the faculty's Teaching Practice Coordinator, Dr Charles Olumorin of the Department of Educational Technology, was attended by the Head Counsellor Education Department, Prof A.A. Talabi, Sub-dean, Students' Affairs Unit, Dr L.A Yahaya and lecturers, including Dr A. Yusuf, Dr. M.I. Oniye, Dr U.A Ajidagba and Dr I.O. Amali, among others.