On December 15, 2024, Access to Complete and Holistic Education (ACHE) trained teachers and school leaders on active methods of engaging learners in their learning at GS Muhungwe. A school which is located in Nyabihu District, Rurembo Sector.
The team included 32 (12 Females) teachers and 3 school leaders. The training objectives were to help teachers be able to:
- Identify traditional and current methods of teaching and be able to evaluate their effectiveness in today’s teaching
- Reflect and evaluate the role of the teacher as the key to change in the current education practice and apply this to their own situation as a teacher
- Develop and apply strategies to encourage learners’ active engagement in their learning
Reflecting on Past Learning and Current Teaching
An essential part of the session was dedicated to retrospection. Teachers were encouraged to reflect on their past learning experiences and the teaching methods they currently use. This reflective process helped them identify areas for improvement and acknowledge their strengths. When teacher Alex was reflecting about the kind of education he received in his school time, he pointed out that this kind of teaching should no longer exist in our schools. He said: “It is high time current teaching and learning process changed to educate students in a holistic way. I still remember how I suffered not being engage in addition to being abused by my teacher. I had a very bad teacher but I also had a good one. As far as I am concerned, a good teacher means a good class; therefore, we need to engage every learner in their learning.”
Not only did the training emphasize on theories behind active engagement of students in their learning but it also focused on practical methods and reflective practices that enhance teaching effectiveness. This encouraged teachers to think of ways they can bring about change in their classes as they improve the level of students engagement in their lessons.