By Mustafa Abubakar
A Professor of Special Education at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Olabisi Olawuyi, has called for the adoption of innovative and technology driven approaches to supervising and mentoring students during their teaching practice exercise.
Prof. Olawuyi made the call penultimate Thursday (October 9, 2025) while delivering a lecture entitled, “Innovative approaches to supervising and mentoring students on teaching practice” at the Faculty of Education 2025 staff Orientation programme on Teaching Practice and Peer Teaching exercise.
The seasoned scholar emphasised that effective supervision in the 21st century must go beyond routine classroom visits and checklist assessments to incorporate inclusive and reflective strategies that respond to the diverse learning needs of today’s students.
She explained that modern-day classrooms are becoming increasingly heterogeneous, with learners exhibiting varying cognitive, physical, and emotional profiles.
According to her, supervisors must, therefore, equip student-teachers with adaptive teaching skills and innovative tools to manage these differences effectively.
Prof. Olawuyi identified some of the challenges faced by persons with special needs in traditional educational environments, including the rigidity of curriculum, insufficient teacher training, limited instructional resources, social isolation, and accessibility barriers.
She noted that addressing these challenges requires teachers who are not only professionally competent but also empathetic, creative, and technology-savvy.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Sub-Dean of the Faculty, Dr Lateef Omotosho Adegboyega, who represented the Dean, Prof. Olaitan, said that the orientation programme was a crucial preparatory step toward ensuring a successful and impactful Teaching Practice exercise.
He explained that Teaching Practice remains one of the most important components of teacher education, serving as the bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical classroom experience.
Dr Adegboyega reminded participants that the quality of teacher supervision directly influences the competence and confidence of student-teachers.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Teaching Practice Committee, Dr Murtala Tukur, described the orientation as an opportunity for professional renewal and collective reflection.
He stated that Teaching Practice goes beyond a mere graduation requirement; it is the heart of teacher education and the practical test of all pedagogical theories learned in the classroom.
“As teachers and mentors, we play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation not just through what we teach, but through how we guide, support, and model professional excellence,”
Dr Tukur said, “Teaching Practice is a critical bridge between theory and classroom reality. Our role as supervisors is to ensure that this experience is rich, reflective, and constructive for every student-teacher.”
He encouraged supervisors to approach the exercise with patience, fairness, and a spirit of mentorship, adding that the way lecturers handle supervision has lasting effects on how their students will, in turn, manage their own classrooms.
The event was attended by Professors, Heads of Departments, Lecturers, and members of the Faculty Teaching Practice Committee, all united by a shared resolve to strengthen mentorship, embrace innovation, and sustain quality teacher preparation at the University of Ilorin.
