Kuni Tyessiin Abuja
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has revealed that more smart schools were underway in targeted rural communities across the country, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Recall that UBEC had established 37 smart schools, one in each state of the federation, equipped with the state-of-the-art technology to provide 21st century education to children in Nigeria. About 19 of the schools have taken off while others are at advanced stages of completion.
The MoU for the implementation of was signed yesterday in Abuja between the UBEC and NCDMB.
Speaking at the brief event, UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi expressed the hope that the partnership will bring significant improvements to the basic education sector.
Bobboyi said he was excited with the partnership, noting that while most of the smart schools established by the commission were located in urban centres, the MoU focused on the establishment of school rural communities.
He described the collaboration as a valuable initiative that would help the Commission provide effective models for the sector.
“We are looking forward to the establishment of more smart schools. UBEC has already established about 37 smart schools in every state of the federation; seven of these are in zones, some of which have started operating, while others are at advanced stages.
“It is also important that we are not just establishing traditional schools using chalkboards, but smart schools equipped with the latest technology. One of our key responsibilities here is to ensure that we can fully utilize the Digital Resource Centre to train teachers,” he stated.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola, commended UBEC for its commitment to basic education and stated that the Board collaborated with the Commission to add value to the sector.
He said: “The content of the MoU contains our joint obligations to establish smart schools in Nigeria in areas with high rate of out-of-school children and undeserved rural communities.
“The initiative is designed to leverage our combined mandate, expertise, and resources to equip smart schools equipped with modern technologies and innovation teaching methods and teaching methods.
“We plan to establish sample smart schools in the north, south, and southeast, and we will gradually expand to all six geopolitical zones, with Lagos as a special zone due to its population.
“We are committed to capturing these areas and finding ways to improve basic education.”