SEPLAT boosts education with STEP initiative in Edo, Delta

SEPLAT PETRO LEUM DEVELOP MENT Company Plc, leading indigenous energy company, is making strides with drive to improve the standard of education in the country, particularly for its host states. The company has just introduced an educational programme targeted at secondary school teachers.

The educational programme tagged Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) initiative aims to promote teacher’s creative thinking, allow for higher student engagement, and offer a well-rounded education for recipients of the programme.

The maiden STEP was launched in Benin City, Edo State, on November 23, lasting five days for the first phase. The five-day residential introductory phase kicks off a six-month programme specially designed for the secondary school teachers, providing them training on teaching applications for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), as well as leadership and self-improvement training.

A statement to Business A.M. by Chioma Nwachuku, general manager, external affairs and communications, quoted Roger Brown, Seplat’s chief executive as saying that, a total of one hundred teachers and 43 chief inspectors of education (CIEs) drawn from Edo and Delta states are benefitting from this maiden edition.

He said, the training continues online over six months with teachers receiving customized training modules on efficient pedagogical methods for STEAM education, as well as leadership and selfimprovement training.

The first set of the teachers from the STEP initiative would be graduating by first quarter 2021. A total of 389 secondary school teachers from schools in Edo and Delta sat for the qualifying test online on September 16, with 100 selected from the two states. Of this number, 75 percent is from public schools, while 25 percent are private schools.

SEPLAT, which is part of the NNPC/SEPLAT upstream joint venture that would provide crude to recently commissioned Wlatersmith Modular Refinery in Ohaji, Imo State, developed an online teachers resource centre which provides the teachers access to inclusive learnings highlighting best techniques and practices for implementing STEAM teaching methods; and assists teachers to learn to use such methods in the classrooms.

The e-platform will provide and connect the teachers to a collection of STEAM resources to enable them to understand, teach and demonstrate effectively to their students. Seplat also supports the teachers with the provision of electronic devices and internet data for the period of the training.

“Seplat is delighted with the invaluable role it is playing with enhancing the quality of education, with the many educational programmes offered through the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. With the STEP programme, the company now has a full bouquet of programmes to address the entire education value-chain. Our programmes now cover improving school infrastructure, enhancing academic performance of students and building the skills and competencies of teachers,” Brown said.

The company recently concluded another flagship educational programme, known as “Seplat PEARLs Quiz,” which had 574 participating schools drawn from Edo and Delta states. The competition aimed at promoting and rewarding academic excellence amongst secondary school students; it runs for six months with the students and schools contesting to win prizes.

The SEPLAT chief executive officer said: “Seplat has invested significantly in various educational (CSR) programmes which support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDS), Goal 4.