Head Teacher of Nawaka District School, Rofin Riyaz Ali participating in the activities at the In-Service Teachers Science Workshop at the FNU, Natabua Campus in Lautoka.

Head Teacher of Nawaka District School, Rofin Riyaz Ali will make a commitment to advocate strongly for a science lab for his students.

Ali made the comment after being enlightened at the In-Service Teachers Science Workshop at the Fiji National University’s Natabua Campus in Lautoka.

At least 30 primary school teachers from Lautoka, Nadi and Ba attended the workshop.

The workshop which is centered around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education will allow the teachers to focus on evidence-based and internationally recognised approach of the 5E Lesson Plan Model.

This model — Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate, is designed to promote inquiry, stimulate critical thinking, encourage problem-solving, and deepen students’ understanding of scientific concepts.

The workshop is championed by the FNU’s College of Humanities, Education and Law (CHEL) – Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education and sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Primary school teachers and academics from the FNU’s CHEL at the In-Service Teachers Science Workshop.

The theme for the two-days’ workshop was ‘Building Strong Foundation in STEM Education: Empowering Future Graduates to Inspire Science Learning in Fiji Primary Schools’. 

The workshop was a vision by the former Head of School – School of Education, Vilive Cagivinaka.

Ali highlighted that the workshop taught him many new things about STEM and how the workshop could be integrated into the teaching of science in all primary schools.

“As we know in the primary schools we do not have science labs and we do not have many science equipment as well so basically whenever we are doing experiments it is all teacher-centered such as – the teachers carry out the experiments and the students stand there and watch so they do not have a hands-on experience and most of the time teachers are reluctant to carry out these experiments and they resort to other means,” he said.

He said like in this digital era, YouTube videos were a component some teachers would use to teach their students about experiments.

“After attending the workshop, I will go and advocate on building a new lab on a small scale where our children are given a chance to carry out experiments,” he added.

“I have got a lot of takeaways from this workshop which will benefit my students especially in the teaching and learning of science. I believe when students do hands-on experience they learn better – by listening and by watching, they would learn but not the extent to which they would learn by doing it themselves.”

While acknowledging the FNU team for organising the critical workshop, Ali said the workshop was an eyeopener for all the teachers.

Chief Guest at the official opening of the workshop and the Dean for the CHEL, Professor Mesake Dakuidreketi said FNU recognised that scientific knowledge and skills were critical to both individual success and national productivity.

Chief Guest and the Dean for the CHEL, Professor Mesake Dakuidreketi speaking at the In-Service Teachers Science Workshop at the FNU, Natabua Campus in Lautoka.

“This is why, in our own teacher training programmes, we are already implementing the 5E Model, enhancing laboratory safety protocols, and fostering hands-on, inquiry-based learning. We believe that by empowering teachers, we indirectly empower every student they will ever teach, creating a ripple effect of knowledge, inspiration, and innovation,” said Professor Dakuidreketi.

The workshop concluded yesterday.