EDUCATION

Why it’s important for students to

develop independent learning
skills

By Lydia Atieno Published : May 08, 2018

The desire for every teacher is to see their learners

excel, not only in academic work but also outside
school environment. However, education experts
believe that among many factors that lead to
achieving this, is helping and working with
students on how to develop independent leaning
skills.

According to Moses Kalisa, an English teacher at

Saint Patrick School in Kicukiro, making students
independent, especially when it comes to academic
work, does not only save the teacher from being
overworked but also makes students become
independent even outside school environment.

“When a student is taught how to learn and do

things on their own, it helps them develop essential
social skills and development in general,” he says.

How to achieve this

Jackyline Irabagiza, a matron and counselor at

Martyrs school in Remera, says, as an instructor, it’s
better to shift from teaching directly to more of
coaching your students on how to handle or tackle
some lessons, especially in your absence.

This, she believes, can be achieved through

encouraging learners to form groups that will see
them participate in throughout the entire lesson.

On the other hand, Irabagiza says that as a teacher,

it’s ideal to pick certain topics depending on what
you think your students have understood most, and
then come up with questions so that learners can
learn how to tackle for themselves.

“This helps learners to develop good attitude

towards learning as they will want to explore things
for themselves, which will boost their morale when
it comes to handling specific things either
academically or socially,” she adds.

Another important aspect when it comes to training

students to be independent, Elias Ndayisaba, a
teacher at Mother Mary Complex School in
Kibagabaga notes that such students are in better
position to take responsibility for their own
learning as well as at home, when left with their
younger siblings or in the absence of their parents.

He however adds that teachers should also

encourage them on how to set goals and what they
want to achieve as far as education is concerned.

Ndayisaba explains that this can start by learners

coming up with schedule which allows them to be
involved in almost all activities related to school
work.

“It’s through this that they will learn how to do

their own things without being followed or pushed
to do. And this should be encouraged right from the
beginning so that the learner grow up knowing
what they are supposed to do when and how,” he
says.

Why it’s important

According to Kalisa, when teachers help students to

become independent, it help them to develop their
own ideas, rather than always looking to teachers
on everything; which at the end will see such
learners as problems solvers even in future.

Alternatively, he says that it’s through this kind of

learning that will help students learn on how to
work together.

“Through collaboration, students get an

opportunity to learn from their peers the case
which can’t happen when such students are only
taught by their teachers. Also, letting them be part
of lesson planning is ideal as it will make them feel
they have responsibility for their own learning,” he
says.

On the other hand, Ndayisaba feels that instilling

learners with independent learning skills help them
to be great thinkers and leaders as well.

“It’s through this that students can come up with

different ideas based on personal experience and
observation thus coming up with solutions to the
problems being solved,” he says.

Jean Marie Habimana,a Kigali based mentor

believes that when a learner is in an environment
where they are spoon-fed in almost everything, they
will become a burden not only to teachers but to the
society when they come outside school
environment.

“This limits them in many ways including the way

they think, reason or even making decision of their
own. This will always make them seek support and
assistance from those whom they think could be in
a position to help them,” he says.

Follow @Lydia_AtienoM

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