Saltpond (C/R), Feb. 2, GNA - A training of trainers workshop on revised junior secondary school syllabuses held at Saltpond has bought to the fore the need for teachers to depart from the lecture method of teaching and to adopt the participatory method.

Mr Felix Akomaning, Course Prefect, told the Ghana News Agency at Saltpond that the participants made up of teachers, headmasters and mistresses and education officers had come to the realisation of the harm the lecture or note method had been doing to pupils.

He said the workshop observed that pupils found it difficult to grasp the information or knowledge the teachers intended to impart since the pupils were not allowed to participate in the process.

The five-day workshop was organised by the Curriculum Research and Development Division (CRDD) of the Ghana Education Service for participants from 10 deprived districts in the Central and Western regions.

Komenda-Edina-Egyafo-Abirem, Assin North, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Upper Denkyira are considered as deprived district in the Central Region while Aowin-Suaman, Juabeso Bia, Mphor-Wassa East, Amenfi West and Sefwi Wiawso are those in the Western Region.

Subject specialists from the CRDD treated revised syllabuses for 11 subject areas.

Addressing the closing session, Mr F.K. Aidoo, Assistant Director in charge of Saltpond Training and Courses Centre, exhorted teachers not to regard lesson notes as their private property. They should prepare lesson notes in such a way that when they were not around any other teacher could use it to teach the class effectively.

Miss Judith Sakara, Course Co-ordinator, urged the participants to exhibit the enthusiasm, discipline and dedication shown at the workshop in organising similar courses for teachers in their various districts. Mrs Matilda Bannerman-Mensah, Mfantseman District Director of Education advised the participants to put into practice the knowledge and skills they had acquired at the workshop.