NextGen Teachers Bootcamp: Empowering Educators for a Skill-Based and Sustainable Future

The gap between educational attainment and real-world success is largely due to a lack of essential skills that go beyond reading and writing. The World Economic Forum (WEF) emphasizes that critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and collaboration are crucial skills for the 21st century. To achieve a level of education in Nigeria that supports 21st century skill development, teachers’ training and capacity building are a key approach and the NextGen Teachers Bootcamp Project, which is a follow-up on the 2024 AbujaTransforming Education Summit, is the right medium.

The 2024 Transforming Education Summit, held in July, convened a diverse group of stakeholders including students, teachers, government officials, and education experts to explore the critical role of Nigeria’s national school curriculum in driving the country’s shift towards skill-based learning. The summit served as a platform for meaningful dialogue on how education can be restructured to meet the demands of the 21st century and equip students with the skills necessary for success in an increasingly complex world.

The role of teachers is continuous development and training as teachers are central to the educational process, and their ability to deliver a skills- or competency-based curriculum is critical. Unfortunately, many Nigerian teachers lack the training and resources necessary to teach beyond basic literacy and numeracy. 

Through the NextGen Teachers Bootcamp, an innovative initiative aimed at empowering educators with the skills necessary to teach sustainability in the classroom, Development of Educational Action Network, DEAN Initiative convened school teachers on the 2nd and 3rd of September 2024 for a pilot session to lead action that addresses teachers’ competence gap.

The Boot camp is set to support 100 teachers across Lagos, Abuja and Kwara, equipping them to be willing, ready, and able to integrate sustainability into their teaching practices. By participating, educators gained the adequate tools needed to inspire the next generation of leaders to think critically and act responsibly towards our planet. The pilot phase of the Boot Camp is finished, and we’re geared up for the next stage. This Boot camp also focused on enhancing teachers’ abilities to deliver core, competence, and transferable skills that are essential for fostering a sustainable future.

Addressing The Skill Gap: Beyond Basic Literacy

According to Semiye Michael, the Executive Director of DEAN Initiative, “We believe that empowering teachers is crucial to shaping a sustainable future. Our NextGen Teachers Bootcamp is designed to support educators in inspiring and equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.” 

In Nigeria, skills are rarely integrated into the curriculum, leaving students ill-prepared for the demands of modern workplaces and civic life. Civic life goes beyond good reading and writing skills; it incorporates empathy, leadership, creativity, analytical thinking, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and more.

Recognizing the importance of capacity building for teachers, the NextGen Teachers Bootcamp created an avenue to develop teachers, extending their reach beyond classrooms and ensuring that teachers can train the leaders of tomorrow.

This Boot camp marks a significant step in our commitment to educational excellence and environmental stewardship. We look forward to the positive impact the learnings of this boot camp will have on both educators and students alike in the near future.