Education

UNICEF solicits media participation in Nigeria Learning Passport

In its efforts to ensure access to an uninterrupted and quality education in the country, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has organized a day strategy meeting with media.

The meeting held in Enugu State by was organized by Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board and the state ministry of education in collaboration with UNICEF.

Participants were drawn from Benue, Enugu and Cross River States with the aim of promoting and increasing enrollment of young learners into uninterrupted and quality education.

This is to be achieved through an uptake of the Nigeria Learning Passport, (NLP), Programme in communities, schools, LGAs and to reach areas for all persons living in difficult circumstances, in Benue, Enugu and Cross River States.

The Nigeria Learning Passport, (NLP), is an online, mobile, and offline digital learning platform powered by microsoft that enables continuous access to 15,000 curriculum aligned learning and training materials in local languages for learners, teachers, and parents.

Itwas launched in 2022, by UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Education to bridge the access gap to quality learning opportunities for young learners in the country.

Speaking at the meeting, the Communication Officer, UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Dr Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, charged Journalists to use their various platforms to advance increased enrollment into the digital space, while also urging the Government to explore ways to ensure that all children have access to continued education.

She said, ” the essence of the meeting was to identify media networks in targeted three states of Enugu, Benue and Cross Rivers, and get them acquainted on the NLP’s operational mode and it’s potentials for educational advancement among young learners in the state.

“It was also to enable journalists prioritize and set agenda for accelerated NLP uptake, unify with Government and persons in positions to take favourable actions for children development as well as holding them accountable.

Dr Ogwe enjoined the media to be committed to pitching the NLP prospects and agenda, using their platforms to enable them achieve set enrollment targets for NLP uptakes in the three states.

Also in her presentation, Education Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Dr Agatha Nzeribe, said there was need to determine the key initiatives on how to achieve the uptake of NLP in the country.

While identifying limited quality education in language children understand, lack of quality curriculum and learning materials, and professional development resources to support provision of quality education among others, Nzeribe stated that NLP is a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform education as it brings about remediation, community and parental engagement, digital/remote learning, among other benefits.

Director Education, Benue State E-learning/Virtual Education ICT Makurdi, Mr Francis Dera stated that Benue State had already keyed into the programme and assured UNICEF of the enrollment of over 500,000 NLP users before the end of the year 2023.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE