…work commences on 16 others soon
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disclosed that a total of 21 Smart Schools are currently in operation across the country.
The Commission said the development was part of the $10 million fund provided by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Nigeria Smart Education Project which commenced in 2021 with a Record of Discussion (RoD) signed between UBEC and KOICA on October, 2021.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, who spoke at the closing ceremony of project in Abuja, on Monday, described the intervention as a tremendous digital transformation in the Nigeria’s basic education system.
She explained that the KOICA-Nigeria smart education project was designed to improve the quality of education in Nigeria by leveraging technology and digital resources. “Under the framework, the project witnessed the massive investment in infrastructure in the six pilot smart schools supported by the Korean government.
“Each of the six schools were equipped with state-of-the-art Content Development Studios (CDS) to enable teachers to develop real-world applicable digital content for their learners.”
She further noted that the intervention has resulted in significant milestones, particularly in encouraging school enrollment, thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children.
“When the project began in 2021, over 10.1 million school-age children were out of school, 70 per cent of those enrolled lacked foundational learning skills, and more than 60 per cent of public primary school teachers did not possess basic digital literacy.
“Today, we are celebrating a transformational journey, the one that has redefined the landscape of basic education through technology, innovative teaching, and inclusive learning.
“Although KOICA’s focus is in six smart schools, the outcome of the project has reached over 8,000 learners in 21 states where the smart schools are fully operational. These are more than numbers. They are lives touched, futures reshaped, and a growing belief that our public schools can compete globally,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Executive Secretary of UBEC (Technical), Mr. Razaq Akinyemi Olajuwon, in a presentation of the overview of the UBEC-KOICA smart education project confirmed that the intervention has revolutionised education by incorporating technology into learning environments.
He noted that the initiative has increased the capacity of teachers in the use and development of ICT content and improved access to quality information and communication technology teaching content in the classroom.
Manager, KOICA Nigeria Office, David Nkwa, said the project in the last five years has improved quality education in Nigeria, especially improving learning outcomes at the basic level of education.
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