Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: play-based learning

  • SELI Commissions Educational Playgrounds to Enhance Learning for 500 Children in Plateau

    SELI Commissions Educational Playgrounds to Enhance Learning for 500 Children in Plateau

    By Israel Adamu, Jos

    The Star Educational Leadership Initiative (SELI) has built and commissioned two fully equipped educational playgrounds for schools in underserved communities in Plateau State, providing over 500 pupils with improved access to play-based learning.The beneficiary schools—Baptist Model Academy, Gwafan Lamingo, and Happy Days Private School, Tina Junction, Jos—received customised playgrounds featuring age-appropriate structures such as seesaws, monkey ladders, tyre-based learning tools, swings, slides, pyramids, walkways, and interactive playhuts.

    Speaking during the commissioning and handover ceremony, SELI Founder and Executive Director, Aunty Esther Onyinyechi Mark, said the initiative aims to motivate children to enrol, stay in school, and develop a stronger love for learning.“We believe access to quality education is the fundamental right of every child,” she said. “These playgrounds give children an added reason to come to school. Beyond fun, they serve as instructional materials that teachers can integrate into classroom learning.” She explained that the intervention was designed to boost school attendance and enhance learning outcomes in a region grappling with educational challenges.“

    In Northern Nigeria, particularly across the North Central and North East, we have one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children,” she noted. “This is our contribution toward helping children stay in school, feel joy, and develop cognitively, socially, and emotionally. Play is not just play—play is learning.” The playgrounds, she added, support children’s cognitive growth while fostering communication, social interaction, creativity, and critical-thinking skills.The project was implemented through the Reciprocal Exchange Component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, a U.S. Department of State programme administered by IREX in collaboration with Play360.

    Parents, teachers, and community stakeholders expressed gratitude during the handover, noting that the new facilities have brought renewed energy to the learning environment and are expected to influence positive educational outcomes.

  • NGO Trains Over 250 Teachers in Plateau on Innovative Learning Techniques

    NGO Trains Over 250 Teachers in Plateau on Innovative Learning Techniques

    By Israel Adamu, Jos

    A non-governmental organization, Star Education and Leadership Initiative (SELI), has trained more than 250 teachers across Plateau State on innovative and child-friendly teaching approaches aimed at improving learning outcomes in schools.

    Speaking to journalists during the training held on Saturday in Jos, the founder of SELI, Esther Onyinyechi Mark, said the initiative—titled “Pages and Play: Promoting Literacy and Learning Through Child-Friendly Environments” was designed to equip teachers with 21st-century teaching skills.

    “At Star Education and Leadership Initiative, we implement projects that promote quality and equitable access to education for young people,” Mark stated. “This is our fourth annual SELI Teacher Training Workshop, and our goal is to spark teachers’ curiosity and encourage them to move beyond traditional methods by integrating play and literacy into classroom learning.”

    She explained that the concept of “Pages and Play” merges reading with joyful learning. “The idea is for teachers to combine books and play-based learning so that education becomes more engaging, effective, and meaningful for children,” she said.

    Mark emphasized that SELI’s broader mission is to make school environments more appealing and supportive for children. “We want children to be in school, to stay in school, and to love being in school,” she noted. “We achieve this through our services, such as building playgrounds and organizing teacher training workshops like this one.”

    According to her, the one-day training drew teachers from over 30 schools across Plateau State and featured six expert speakers, panel sessions, workshops, and group discussions. These sessions, she said, were designed to help teachers grow professionally and reignite their passion for teaching.

    “We don’t want teachers to teach simply because they stumbled into the profession. Even if they did, we want them to find purpose, passion, and commitment in what they do,” Mark added.

    Highlighting the diversity of participants, she noted that the program deliberately included teachers from both underserved and elite schools to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. “This mix allows teachers from different backgrounds to share ideas and learn from one another, building synergy and encouraging innovation in teaching,” she explained.

    Mark stressed that transforming teachers’ mindsets is central to improving the quality of education. “If we can change how teachers think, they can transform their classrooms, adopt modern strategies, and inspire lifelong learning in children,” she said.

    She concluded by reaffirming SELI’s commitment to advancing literacy, creativity, and leadership among both teachers and learners across Nigeria.