Enabling cross-cultural exchanges and collaborative projects between Nigerian and Welsh students through the Connecting Classrooms programme
Initially trained in microbiology, Gbemiga Bankole Afolabi never anticipated a career in education. However, fate intervened when the Lagos State government issued a call for graduates, regardless of their educational background, to join the teaching profession. This marked the beginning of Gbemiga’s journey as an educator, where she has thrived as a biology teacher for over a decade.
The year 2020 brought unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst this turmoil, Gbemiga discovered and applied for the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms programme. The Connecting Classrooms initiative is a global education programme designed to cultivate essential skills in young people, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, to effectively navigate a globalised world.
Participation in the Connecting Classrooms programme proved transformative for Bankole. She acquired innovative teaching methodologies and essential skills aimed at imparting critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to her students. “The knowledge I gained from the programme was invaluable,” she remarked. “I was eager for the students to return to the classroom after the COVID restrictions were lifted so I could implement the action plan I had developed.”
As physical classes resumed, Bankole wasted no time in executing her action plan through her project’s framework. Her initiative, titled “Introducing Children to Problem-Solving Using Evidence-Based Learning,” targeted senior secondary school students. Using the Biology subtopic “Microorganisms and Man” as a foundation, she employed the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study to engage students in critical thinking and problem-solving exercises. Through guided methodologies, students were empowered to discern misinformation surrounding the pandemic, actively participating in problem-solving discussions and collaborating to separate fact from fiction.
Bankole’s innovative teaching methods earned her acclaim from her students, who appreciated her dynamic and engaging approach to learning. Additionally, her involvement in the Connecting Classrooms programme facilitated a partnership with Nantgwyn Rhondda Valley School in Wales. This partnership enabled cross-cultural exchanges and collaborative projects between Nigerian and Welsh students. The success of her programme highlighted Bankole’s dedication to education and her commitment to fostering inclusivity. In 2022, her efforts were recognised when she was nominated to represent Nigeria in the Commonwealth Connections programme, affirming her status as a leader in the field of education.