By DAYO ADESULU
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is taking significant steps to enhance digital education in government schools across Bauchi State. This initiative aims to bridge learning gaps, improve educational outcomes, and equip students with essential digital skills.
UNICEF’s Commitment to Digital Learning Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in the Toro Local Government Area, UNICEF Education Specialist Abdulrahman Ado outlined the organization’s ongoing efforts to integrate digital education into public schools. He emphasized that digital learning is crucial in addressing challenges such as inadequate teaching personnel and outdated learning methods.
Deployment of Digital Tools in Schools As part of the initiative, UNICEF has supported 55 selected government schools since 2022 by providing each with 22 tablets preloaded with the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) platform. The NLP is an innovative digital platform that offers foundational literacy and numeracy content, life skills training, and job-specific skills development.
“The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey revealed that three out of four children in Nigeria cannot read with meaning or solve simple math problems. Digital learning provides a solution to this crisis,” Ado stated.
Key Benefits of Digital Education
- Enhanced Learning Outcomes: Digital tools help students grasp complex subjects more effectively.
- Bridging the Education Gap: Addresses teacher shortages by providing self-paced learning materials.
- Offline Accessibility: Ensures students in remote areas without internet access can still benefit.
- Skill Development: Equips students with critical digital skills for future employment opportunities.
Call for Government Support Ado urged the Bauchi State government to strengthen IT infrastructure, enhance security, and improve power supply in schools to ensure the sustainability of this digital education initiative. He also highlighted the importance of training teachers and headteachers in Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) to enhance school monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
Government’s Response and Future Plans Aisha Amin, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, confirmed that EMIS training is in its final stages. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to training teachers and officials at both state and local government levels to improve data collection and educational standards.
Testimonial from Beneficiary Schools Yakubu Gayawa, Principal of one of the benefiting Junior Secondary Schools in Magama-Gumau, expressed gratitude for the initiative. He praised the government’s collaboration with UNICEF, acknowledging the positive impact digital education is having on students.
Conclusion UNICEF’s digital education initiative in Bauchi State is a transformative step towards improving literacy, numeracy, and digital skills among students. With continued government support and investment in infrastructure, the program has the potential to revolutionize education in the region.
