The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intensified efforts to enhance digital education in government schools across Bauchi State, calling on the state government, philanthropists, and well-to-do individuals to support child education through the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) initiative.
The initiative, launched in Bauchi in 2022, aims to leverage digital technology to improve learning outcomes and bridge the education gap in the state.
Speaking during a one-day media dialogue to mark the 2024 International Day of Education in Toro Local Government Area, UNICEF Education Specialist for the Bauchi Field Office, Abdulrahman Ado, emphasized the need for proper monitoring of the programme to ensure its effectiveness. He called for periodic visits to schools to assess how the tablets and other digital learning gadgets provided under the initiative are being utilized. “Sometimes the teachers think the Nigerian Learning Passport belongs to UNICEF. But no, it belongs to Bauchi State Government, and it is the responsibility of the state government to provide education for all learners,” Ado stated.
While commending the Bauchi State government’s recent move to recruit more teachers, Ado urged officials to use the Teacher Management Information System (TMIS) for the recruitment process, ensuring a data-driven and efficient approach. “We are calling on the government to please use the Teacher Management Information System (TMIS) in recruiting these teachers that have been approved by the government,” he said. He also stressed the need for strengthening school infrastructure, including security and electricity, to protect the gadgets and ensure their effective use.
Highlighting the shortage of digital learning materials, Ado appealed to the state government to procure additional tablets, projectors, and other necessary gadgets to expand access to digital education. “The number of tablets and projectors provided is not enough, considering the number of schools and learners in Bauchi. The state government should procure more to reach more students,” he urged. He further recommended the establishment of a Nigeria Learning Passport studio to develop localized educational content tailored to Bauchi’s needs.
On her part, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, Ai’shatu Aminu, revealed that almost all schools across the state’s 20 local government areas have been enrolled in the programme, except for newly admitted students. She disclosed that 1,110 tablets have been distributed across 55 primary and junior secondary schools, 15 Integrated Qur’anic Schools (IQS), and 40 conventional schools, with each receiving 22 tablets.
The Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) is an online e-learning platform with mobile and offline capabilities designed to ensure continuous access to quality education. It allows states to adopt it as their learning management system or use it to complement existing digital learning efforts. The platform provides both national curriculum content and global Open Educational Resources (OERs) to support learners and improve education outcomes. It also serves as an education model for early childhood education, primary and secondary schooling, adolescent skill development, and technical and vocational training. Each user has a personalized learning history, making it a valuable tool for students, teachers, and parents alike.
As UNICEF pushes for the expansion of digital education in Bauchi, stakeholders are urged to invest in the necessary infrastructure, resources, and policy support to ensure the success of the initiative and improve the future of education in the state.
