FG develops e-learning software for basic education

The Federal Government through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has commenced development of e-learning software for use at the basic education level in Nigeria.

Executive secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, speaking at a two-day workshop for the review of proposals on the development of the e-learning software for use in schools said this was a bold step by the Federal Government to develop and integrate modern learning approaches into basic education delivery.

He said there has been also renewed clamour for the transition from traditional to modern methods of teaching and learning in the country.

He said part of the initiatives of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is to ensure that the education system keeps abreast of global best practices, and that learners are given ample opportunity to harness their full potential through the deployment of appropriate technology in UBE delivery.

The workshop held at the UBEC headquarters, Abuja, was part of the foundational activities that would culminate in the adoption and utilisation of essential ICT platforms for enhancing teaching and learning in government operated basic education institutions.

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The two-day workshop was attended by publishers, basic education resource content developers, collaborating agencies like Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), resource persons and UBEC officials.

The meeting which was declared open by the UBEC executive secretary, represented by UBEC director of academic Services, Malam Wadatau Madawaki, is expected to, among other things, develop a blueprint that could guide UBEC in its bid to appraise submissions received from publishers and content developers that are keen on partnering with the commission in the introduction of e-books in Nigeria’s basic education sub-sector.

The e-book project when actualised would form part of UBEC’s instructional material delivery initiatives and is expected to be an added value to the improvement of basic education quality across the country.

Meanwhile, in pursuit of the attainment of the objectives of Pillar One of the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) that seeks to address the out-of-school children phenomenon in Nigeria, UBEC, in partnership with the World Bank, has organized a two-day clinic for State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) in the North-West geo-political zone.

This was with a view to enhancing their capacity to produce efficient, clear and implementable delivery plans capable of achieving Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) development objectives.

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, represented by Hajiya Buba Haruna, BESDA Focal Officer, Federal Ministry of Education, while declaring the workshop open, highlighted efforts made by the present administration in addressing the out-of-school challenge which is very rampant in the target BESDA states.

BESDA is a World Bank-supported initiative which targets states with the largest population of out-of-school children in the country.

BESDA seeks to support designated federal and state agencies in with the specific objective of increasing equitable access to education, improving literacy in focused states, and strengthening accountability for results through system strengthening.

The minister expressed delight over the renewed drive to empower states and other collaborating partners in providing indigenous interventions that can encourage all school aged children to access and utilize available basic education opportunities in the country.