Capacity Building: SUBEB, UBEC to train 185 rural teachers on multigrade pedagogy

In an effort to reduce the number of out-of-school children and strengthen classroom delivery in underserved communities, the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), will hold a four-day training workshop on multigrade pedagogy and mixed ability classes.

According to a statement signed by SUBEB Executive Chairman, Hon. Samuel Mariere, and the Director of the Teacher Development Department, Mrs. Eru Ezefili, the programme will run from Tuesday, September 16 to Friday, September 19, 2025, at peace garden hotel international, Igretakpere (Ovwodokpokpor-Ogor), Ughelli, Ughelli North LGA. Sessions are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. daily.

The theme of the workshop, “Reducing Out-of-School Children through Multigrade Pedagogy,” will guide the training of 185 teachers selected from rural and hard-to-reach schools across the state. The sessions will feature hands-on demonstrations, group activities, and expert-led modules to help educators manage diverse age groups and grade levels within the same classroom.

In the statement, SUBEB and UBEC explained that “Delta SUBEB in collaboration with UBEC, is organizing a 4-day Capacity Building Workshop on multigrade pedagogy and mixed ability classes for 185 teachers of rural and hard-to-reach area schools. Multigrade pedagogy is a global initiative which is driven in Nigeria by UBEC in collaboration with UNICEF. It is a specialized training aimed at enhancing the skills of teachers in handling learners with different age groups and grades in the rural and hard to reach area schools.”

They further noted that the training will be residential and emphasized that innovative strategies are crucial to bridging educational gaps in rural areas. The initiative, they said, reflects a firm commitment to continuous teacher development and inclusive education.

The workshop, they added, represents another significant stride in Delta State’s efforts to improve foundational learning and ensure fewer children are excluded from the school system.