UBEC Set To Construct Smart Schools In Geopolitical Zones | READ DETAILS

According to the statement, the management of the commission has commenced discreet efforts to ensure the full implementation of e-learning programmes in basic education across the nation following the challenges that bedeviled the sub-sector by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and closure of schools.

The statement read in part, "To this end, the UBEC has assembled a team of experts in Kano for a 5-day workshop for the development of course outline and course contents for the training of education managers, teachers, technical support personnel and other stakeholders for the smart schools and e-learning programmes in basic education in Nigeria.

"The commission is building six smart schools (that is six information, communication and telecommunications schools) in the six geo-political zones at a cost of about N3.6bn; being part of the initiative to encourage e-learning in the country.

"UBEC will also build one of such schools in all the 36 states of federation, with each estimated to cost about N350m, and will be able to accommodate a large number of students and ICT infrastructure

"In order for these 2 projects to successfully take-off, there is the need for the commission to develop the capacity of relevant stakeholders that will ultimately manage these schools in particular and the basic education sub-sector in general.

"It is on this basis that the UBEC is proposing a 5-day workshop for the development of course outline and course contents for the training of education managers, teachers, technical support personnel and other stakeholders for the Smart Schools and E-Learning Programmes."

Bobboyi explained that the capacity building for the different categories of stakeholders would include general training on ICT tools and facilities.

He added that the training would cover all issues pertaining to the effective use of various ICT tools and facilities to enable the teachers to efficiently use them; saying this would also cover areas that have to do with various software packages and their usefulness to e-learning delivery.

On digital pedagogical training, the UBEC boss said this would focus on developing teachers' skills on e-learning lesson delivery, explaining that the pedagogical skills required for e-learning delivery is far different from the face-to-face pedagogical skills.

"Without these skills, the expected impact of the initiative would be minimal, if not lacking. The training will cover such areas as pedagogical skills for online lesson delivery, learning management system, assessment practices, blended learning methodology, etc," he said.