When Teachers Learn to Recognise Diabetes, Schools Become Safer Places for Children

 



For a child living with diabetes, school is more than a place to learn. It is where they spend much of their day, surrounded by teachers and classmates who may be among the first people to notice when something is wrong.

A teacher may not be a healthcare professional, but knowing the signs of diabetes, understanding what to do during an emergency, and knowing how to support an affected child can make a meaningful difference.

This was the focus of the Teachers’ Capacity-Building Training on Diabetes in Children and Adolescents, held on May 18, 2026, in Enugu State. The training was organised through a collaboration between the Paediatric Endocrinology Unit of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), the Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology in Nigeria (SPAEN), and CedarRise Initiative for Human Development.

The programme brought together 57 teachers and school representatives from 29 schools to build practical knowledge around childhood diabetes. Participants explored its signs and symptoms, nutrition and physical activity, hypoglycaemia and other complications, emergency response, sick-day management and ways schools can better support children living with the condition.

Rather than relying on lectures alone, the training used practical demonstrations, group discussions, breakout sessions and question-and-answer activities. This gave participants room to connect the information to situations they might encounter in their own schools.

But the most important part of the training began after the participants left the room.

When Knowledge Moves

The programme used a step-down approach, encouraging participants to share what they had learned with colleagues and students in their schools.

Based on reports received so far, these follow-up sessions have reached at least 1,497 additional teachers and students, with reports from some schools still pending.

Participants shared information on recognising symptoms, responding to emergencies, healthy lifestyle practices and supporting students living with diabetes. One participant described what happened next:

“We have already stepped down the training to our fellow teachers and students and also plan to speak to parents.”

This ripple effect was central to the value of the programme. The initial 57 participants became a channel through which knowledge could reach school communities beyond the original training.

Measuring What Changed

The training also included pre- and post-test assessments to measure changes in participants' knowledge. Of the 51 participants who completed both assessments, 74.5% demonstrated improved performance after the training.

Participant feedback reflected the practical value of the experience. One described it as:

“The best teacher-friendly workshop I have ever attended.”

For CedarRise and its partners, the outcome goes beyond a single training day. When teachers are better equipped to recognise health concerns and respond appropriately, schools can become more informed and supportive environments for children.

And when those teachers share what they learn, the impact can travel much further.

What began with 57 trained participants across 29 schools has already reached more than 1,497 additional people. It is a reminder that capacity building is not only about what happens in a training room. Its real value lies in what people do with the knowledge once they leave it.

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