Idowu Adekanbi is a US-based child development specialist and childhood education researcher at Kent State University. In this interview, she spoke on her research which centers on promoting childhood education teachers’ motor skill knowledge and developing children’s cognitive, emotional, and social skills through physical activities.
Can you share your journey and experiences that led you to specialise in childhood education?
I developed an interest in education while in high school because as young as I was, I knew the importance of quality education and the need for improvement in facilities, materials, equipment, and human resources. My journey in childhood education began when I started my teaching career as a primary schoolteacher. I found out that most school owners failed to provide professional development training opportunities for their teachers to help them update their knowledge and skills as teaching young children from diverse backgrounds often requires specialised knowledge and skills. This prompted me to choose Childhood Education at Tai Solarin University of Education to have the in-depth knowledge and skills required to provide quality care and education for children, and I graduated as the best graduating student in my department.
What inspired your interest in this field?
My interest in childhood education was further inspired by Dr. Ogunyemi, who is now a Professor of Childhood Education. She orientated me on the prospect of childhood education. She made me realise the opportunities attached to this field beyond classroom teaching. I am using this medium to tell parents and my younger ones who are studying childhood education and those who intend to study this course that a child educator can work with international organisations like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Save The Children International, World Health Organisation (WHO) and many others.
How did your time studying at Tai Solarin University of Education and the University of Ibadan shape your approach to childhood education?
My time at both institutions was awesome. Learning under renowned experts in this field cannot be ruled out in my journey as a child development specialist and researcher. I have been able to learn that child development occurs in stages. Children cannot reach the same developmental milestones at the same time, this is what some parents do not know, which makes them compare their child to another child. Based on this, my approach to early childhood education has changed from a “one cap fits all approach,” to “an individualised approach,” that enables a teacher to use more than one teaching method in a single lesson.
What are the challenges you observed in the childhood education sector in Nigeria, and how have you addressed them through your various research projects?
The challenges I observed are inadequate stimulating learning environments, inadequate resources, inadequate facilities, low parental involvement in children’s education, curriculum implementation issues, and lack of professional development training programs for teachers. My research on Preschool Teachers’ Perception of the Significance of Play in a Child’s Development explains that play for children is not a waste of time and will never be. It was recommended that teachers should use play in teaching various concepts and topics to children for quick assimilation. It also emphasised the significance of having a stimulating environment for learning which is capable of arousing children’s interest in learning. Another research titled: Class Size, Availability and Use of Instructional Resources as Correlates of Academic Performance of Primary School Pupils looked at how class size, availability, and use of instructional resources impact the academic performance of pupils. The findings revealed that the lower the number of pupils in a class, the better their performance and that instructional resources are not adequate. This calls for more instructional materials and more buildings in schools for effective teaching and learning. Also, I co-authored a research paper on Parents’ Knowledge and Involvement in Primary Education Toward the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 4. This study shows that parents’ involvement in attaining quality education for their children is high. Therefore, the government needs to collaborate with parents to improve the education sector in Nigeria.
In your opinion, how can childhood education in Nigeria be improved to better support the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children?
Government and school owners need to provide good facilities, adequate resources, and appropriate playing equipment, and employ the service of qualified childhood educators to teach at this level of education. Also, childhood education teachers should move away from the chalk-and-talk method and incorporate movement activities in every lesson. Lastly, the government and school owners need to organise professional development programmes that will enable childhood education teachers to stay updated with the current trends in the field.
Have you initiated or led any project that aimed to enhance children’s development and education in Nigeria?
I have initiated and led many projects that promote child development and education in Nigeria. I have procured playing materials for children and distributed learning materials for pupils in some schools. Additionally, I am a co-founder of Spotlight EduCare, where we organise seminars for teachers to help improve their teaching practices and we always celebrate the International Day of African Child every June 16th of every year. For the 2024 International Day of African Child, Spotlight EduCare invited the 2022 United States of America National Teacher of the Year Mr. Kurt Russell, and a Professor of Childhood Education, Prof. F.T. Ogunyemi from Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, Nigeria, to give a talk to Nigerian teachers. At this seminar, opportunities that are associated with providing African children with outstanding educational experiences were discussed.
What were the outcomes of these initiatives?
Through the materials and equipment provided to children in schools, many children were able to meet their learning and developmental demands. The outcome of these projects earned me Niger State Merit Award in the year 2016 based on my contribution to the education system in the state. The seminars served as a professional development training programme for Nigerian teachers. Through this seminar, they learnt how to create an inclusive classroom capable of making every child reach their full potential.
How do you think the scarce or non-availability of instructional resources affects the academic performance of primary school pupils in Nigeria?
Non-availability of instructional resources causes limitations in pupils’ understanding of the subject matter and makes teaching more challenging for the teachers. When there is a limitation in knowledge regarding a subject, it will affect academic performance. The availability of instructional resources arouses pupils’ interest in learning and aids in quick assimilation and retention.
What role do you believe physical activity plays in the overall development of children, and how can Nigerian schools integrate more of it into their curriculum?
Engaging children in physical activity helps them to keep fit and stay alert throughout the day, this is why physical activities are done in the morning in schools The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children should engage in physical activities for 60 minutes every day due to its importance in enhancing every aspect of children’s learning and development. Nigerian schools can incorporate physical activities in their curriculum by providing learning corners in every classroom where children can go to and do some practical work in their free time, incorporating movement activities in between lessons, providing adequate play materials, and giving enough time for physical exercise.
How has your international experience, including your time at Kent State University and various conferences influenced your approach to child development in Nigeria?
My international exposure greatly influences my approach to child learning and development in Nigeria. I have attended activity-based conferences, where activities were used to teach various concepts like cooperation, teamwork, trust, word formation, addition, subtraction, numbers and letters identification, and many others. All these can be incorporated in childhood education in Nigeria where most of our lessons will be activity-based. Outdoor learning and exploration should be encouraged, and we should also embrace in-depth teaching of concepts, those subjects that are not beneficial to children should be eliminated to give more time for important subjects.
What strategies would you recommend for young educators to stay updated with the latest research and practices in childhood education?
I would recommend that young educators should make use of their phones or computers to improve themselves professionally. There are lots of research findings online that they can read to upgrade their knowledge, there are online courses which they can enroll in for certification and there are free online seminars which they can register for. All of these will help them stay updated in their career.
Would you agree with the school of thought that child educators in Nigeria are not as patient and may not rightly fit into the Western culture where we have a lot of cultural and social differences among kids, especially in the area of discipline?
Not all child educators are patient. If you are not patient, you should not be a child educator. Discipline does not mean beating or punishing children, it is about teaching values. Regarding fitting into the Western world, every child educator should fit into the Western world because we are not training children to be confined to their community or Nigeria alone, we are training children to be global citizens who should be able to compete globally.
Many young people are trying to find their feet in the world of childhood education. What key insight would you offer on how to succeed in your field?
To succeed in the field of childhood education, you must have a passion for children, you must be patient with children, and you must always advocate for the well-being, development, and education of children.
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