The Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, demonstrated its commitment to grooming globally compliant and Future-Ready manpower for national development by unveiling two thousand, two hundred and seventy (2,270) fresh student-teachers for the 2025/2026 Teaching Practice Exercise of the faculty.
Speaking at the Orientation programme to mark the formal commencement of the exercise, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Professor Simeon Oladipo stressed the need for the student-teachers to be abreast of all forms of diversities in their classrooms, ensure inclusion and shun all forms of discrimination.
While assuring them of the faculty’s goodwill and support all through the teaching practice exercise, Prof. Oladipo also harped on the need for the student-teachers to cultivate adaptability and embrace lifelong learning techniques to stay relevant. He implored them to also be advocates of supportive interventions.
The Chairperson of the Faculty’s Teaching Practice Committee, Professor Adeola Afonja set the tone for the event. She described the orientation exercise as a significant step in the process of mentoring the students into the change agents which the education sector needs especially at this critical time.
While preparing the minds of the student-teachers for potential challenges ahead of them, Prof Afonja implored the students to be patient, observant and open minded as well as see the experiences as part of their growth process. She also implored them to forge connection, and treat every learner with respect and humility.
The event featured a lecture titled: The Teaching Profession in the 21st Century: Between Theoretical Studies and Practical Realities by Dr Jacob Adeyanju of the Department of Educational Management. He charged the student-teachers to familiarize themselves with relevant provisions of the Child Rights Law as well as the Education Policies of the Federal and Lagos State Government.
Professor Oyenike Adeosun also delivered a talk on The Power of Interaction in Teaching Practice. She implored the student-teachers to shun all sharp practices which could sabotage their roles as tutors.
There were also remarks and goodwill messages by Heads of Departments (HODs) in the Faculty. They all took turns to congratulate the students for the milestones reached in their academic pursuits and implored them to see themselves as mirrors of UNILAG and testimonies of the Future-Ready Agenda of the University Management.
They also stressed the need for the student-teachers to dress decently, be of good conduct and the right attitude, stick to their mandates as student-teachers and see themselves as ambassadors of the Faculty of Education and the university at large while at their duty posts.
Students also raised various questions associated to the dos and don’ts of their various duty posts. These issues were promptly addressed by the resource persons on ground.
The 2025/2026 Teaching Practice, according to the Faculty’s Teaching Practice Coordinator, Dr Stella Anyama, will commence on Monday, September 22 and run for twelve (12) weeks. During the exercise, the 2,270 student-teachers will offer teaching services in various primary and secondary schools across Lagos State.
Report: Gbenga Gbelee
Photograph: Michael Joshua
