Image CC 2.0 Wasi Daniju Equinox Fellows Iyinoluwa Aboeyji and Ola David have formed a powerful and innovative partnership to tackle a crucial piece of improving education outcomes in Nigeria: teacher training. An estimated 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of school. Even those children who have access to and regularly attend school may not be truly engaged with their studies. The partners are acutely aware of the lack of high quality teacher education programs within Nigeria where many teacher candidates are still being taught ineffective pedagogical methods from the last century.  By combining their considerable individual and organizational resources – Iyinoluwa is the cofounder of Andela and Ola of Connect Academia – and establishing a partnership with  Tai Solarin University of Education, they have developed an impactful three-day workshop event for teacher educators.  "High-quality teachers are a crucial part of a good education. Caring, capable teachers understand their students’ individual strengths and needs, and can tailor their guidance accordingly, giving each student the direction, motivation, and instruction they need in order to succeed." - Equinox Blueprint: Learning 2030 Image CC 2.0 Erik Hersman This represents the first step in what they hope will be a paradigm shift in the process of training teachers in Nigeria. Through Connect Academia, a series of training and capacity building programs that focus on the foundations of teaching and learning, contemporary pedagogy for teacher education, and the use of technology in the class room are already in the works. This training is designed to empower teacher educators through the use of innovative pedagogy to create teachers who are independent thinkers, that are capable of recognizing knowledge and analyzing it critically for the purpose of teaching learners effectively and; in-turn empowering their students to become capable of solving a wide range of societal challenges.     About the Equinox Fellowship As a follow-up to the Forum of Future Leaders and Equinox Summit: Learning 2030, Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) offers Equinox Fellowships to 30 youth participants between the ages of 18 and 30. This program is presented in partnership with TakingITGlobal, one of the world's leading networks of young people learning about, engaging with, and working towards tackling global challenges. The Fellowship includes TakingITGlobal's Sprout e-course, an enhanced project-based learning experience. The course is offered free to Equinox Fellows through WGSI sponsorship. After graduation from the course, Equinox Fellows became eligible for a mentorship and grant funding opportunity that was subject to selection by a Steering Committee composed of representatives from WGSI, TakingITGlobal and MaRS Discovery District.  Sprout E-Course The Sprout e-Course is a 9-week online learning experience provided by TakingITGlobal, where participants are guided through four learning modules – Design, Plan, Connect, and Assess – and work toward developing assets to include as part of a Project Portfolio that will support transforming ideas into concrete actions. This course provides training in essential skills such as team building, project management, critical thinking, communications, and problem solving, to help plan and develop innovative projects. 

The Learning 2030 Summit focuses on the future of high school education, a future that will be influenced by the wider landscape of education issues; from informal to formal education, primary to post-secondary. In this Learning 2030 Blog entry explore how the principal of a high school that was burned to the ground during Sierra Leone's civil war views the state of education in his war-ravaged country.  by Joseph K. Kposowa, Learning 2030 Blog Contributor War-torn and developing countries have an urgent need for stable educational systems. Education is a key aspect of nation-building (or nation re-building), prosperity, and peace. What many conflict areas lack are educational systems that provide for their students physically, socio-culturally, and psychologically. Qualified teachers, teaching materials and a suitable classroom environment for students may be hard to come by, let alone the access to technology that has greatly changed education in the developed world. Connecting globally The introduction of computer studies and Internet connectivity can make a tremendous difference. In most developing countries or in countries torn apart by war, poor Internet service in schools has greatly interfered with the ability of students to share what they know with the world. My students and I have participated in Education Fast Forward (EFF) debates in both Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya via Cisco. We were able to consider different views on how to achieve global peace from students around the world and shared our own views on how to equip students with the skills they need to be the leaders of tomorrow. Supporting locally Psychologically, there is a need for providing care to students who have lived through war. At each school the importance of peace and of understanding the rights of children must be a focus. Additionally, promoting a healthy lifestyle through physical education can promote the wellbeing of students and the community at large.  Finally, a solid educational system can provide career guidance to its students. This will make a difference by helping students to choose courses that will equip them for a stable future. Many schools in developing countries do not prepare students for the realities of the job market and after graduation many students struggle to find work. In Sierra Leone, which endured 11 years of war, stable, solid educational systems can be found only in the private sector. I believe that the development of quality education systems that are accessible to all should be emphasized and supported school-by-school, student-by-student.    Joseph Kposowa is the principal of Sierra Leone’s Bumpe High School and a Promethean Education Fast Forward ambassador. Since 2009, the rebuilt Bumpe High School has returned to peak enrolment of 600 students – the student population it had before it was destroyed by rebels during the country’s 1991-2002 civil war.