3rd May 2023

The DRC met with the Center for the Study of Economies in Africa (CSEA) which is an independent non-profit organization established in 2008 by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former economic coordinating Minister and Honourable Minister of Finance in Nigeria. The Center conducts independent high-quality applied research for improving the education system and economic issues in Nigeria and the rest of Africa. The center is also geared towards facilitating the adoption of Edu-Tech in 10 African countries.

Currently, the CSEA is focused on identifying key government and non-government agencies to partner with, particularly as it relates to the application and utilization of Edu-Tech in Nigeria. During the meeting, the CSEA team explained that UBEC is considered a key stakeholder in that regard, therefore, the DRC as the unit in the Commission focused on the provision of digital-based education, research and training was targeted for the interactive meeting. The National Coordinator, DRC, Prof. Bashir Galadanci was later engaged in an interview session via prepared questionnaires where topics relating to the utilization of Edu-tech, especially post-covid in the basic education sector were tackled.

The CSEA team were also enlightened on the activities and achievements of the DRC which included the adoption of a new learning approach utilizing edu-tech, the smart schools’ programme, the conduct of a series of training activities, etc. The meeting/interview sessions yielded positive outcomes as the team was delighted with the responses elicited from the DRC. In the end, they were taken around the DRC office building by the National Coordinator to be better informed about the activities that take place in each of the offices.

2nd-6th May 2023

UBEC through the DRC trained 19 Smart school personnel in Kwara and 20 in Kano States. The training was designed to adequately equip the smart school personnel with the requisite skills for the commencement of operations during the third term 2022/2023 academic session in the two states.

The training focused on Blended Learning techniques and ICT skillsets with Resource Persons from Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education serving as the trainers. The activity offered intensive specialized hands-on training on ICT skills as well as the concept and practice of Blended Learning to Principals, Teachers, Administrators, and ICT Personnel of the selected smart schools. Additionally, the training offered mentoring exercises for the trainees in both States.

The Commission earlier proposed a pilot third term in selected smart schools including Kano and Kwara States. The purpose of the third term is to avail UBEC the opportunity to test-run on a small scale some of the smart schools and identify challenges that may be encountered in the course of its operations and address them, before the beginning of the 2023/2024 academic session when other smart schools are expected to commence activities on a large scale.

28th March 2023

The Universal Basic Education Commission through its Digital Resource Center (DRC) organized a 5-day training workshop for newly deployed Principals, Headteachers, Heads of Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE), ICT Managers and Teachers of 5 model smart schools in selected states across the country. They include; Anambra, Gombe, Ekiti, Kano and Kwara States respectively.

A total number of 86 participants from; Anambra (18), Ekiti (19), Gombe (18), Kano (14) and Kwara (17) were successfully trained during the exercise. The training was conducted in a bid to facilitate the smooth take-off of the Model smart schools in the pilot 3rd term of the 2022/2023 academic calendar.

The activity offered specialized training on the concept and practice of Blended Learning and provided appropriate ICT as well as leadership training for different categories of Administrators, Principals, ICT personnel and teachers of the selected smart schools.

27th March 2023

In a bid to recruit the most competent individuals as headteachers, heads of ECCDE and ICT managers for the smart schools across Nigeria, UBEC invited the prospective candidates from 5 States to an interactive session with the DRC.

Each state nominated 4 candidates for each post and a team of panelists interacted with each of them to determine and select the most competent persons for the position based on established criteria. A total of 38 candidates from Anambra, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, and Kwara States were in attendance.

It is gratifying to note that the selection process was very successful. However, it was worrisome that some of the prospective administrators and ICT managers showed very little ICT competency, therefore, they cannot effectively function in the model smart schools.

27th March 2023

In a bid to recruit the most competent individuals as headteachers, heads of ECCDE and ICT managers for the smart schools across Nigeria, UBEC invited the prospective candidates from 5 States to an interactive session with the DRC.

Each state nominated 4 candidates for each post and a team of panelists interacted with each of them to determine and select the most competent persons for the position based on established criteria. A total of 38 candidates from Anambra, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, and Kwara States were in attendance.

It is gratifying to note that the selection process was very successful. However, it was worrisome that some of the prospective administrators and ICT managers showed very little ICT competency, therefore, they cannot effectively function in the model smart schools.

15th March, 2023

The Universal Basic Education Commission in collaboration with the Joint Matriculation and Examination Board (JAMB) conducted a proficiency examination for prospective teachers for the model UBE smart schools in 29 states and the FCT. A total of 2684 teachers from different parts of the country participated in the examination in 30 CBT centres.

The exercise was a Computer Based Test (CBT) proficiency examination, embarked upon to select competent teachers to drive the process of basic education delivery to learners in the soon-to-be-launched model smart school in Nigeria.

The one-day activity comprised of biometric enrolment of candidates at JAMB accredited centers in respective states of the federation and the FCT, as well as the examination process which was held for a period of two hours. The candidates were each tested on the use of English, General Knowledge and a subject area of specialization.

9th February, 2023

The Digital Resource Center (DRC) of the Universal Basic Education Commission held a 2-Day Interactive Session with prospective principals of the Model Smart Schools on Wednesday 8th-Thursday 9th February, 2023.

The session was aimed at acquainting the prospective principals with the novel concept of smart schools, training them on blended learning techniques, digital literacy and effective school management skills, and having interactive discussions with them on the progress achieved in their various states on the smart schools programme.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, in his welcome address, read by the National Co-ordinator of the UBEC Digital Resource Center, Prof. Bashir Galadanci, urged the principals to put in their best noting that the success of the programme largely depended on their commitment and dedication in the discharge of their functions as the administrative heads of these institutions.

There are 37 Model Smart Schools (one per state and the FCT) constructed by the Federal Government. They are highly sophisticated state-of-the-art basic education institutions with massive infrastructure and a wide array of modern ICT equipment expected to commence operations in September, 2023.

7th February, 2023

A team of Korean experts from UBION Consortium, the KOICA project management consultants for the smart schools’ project in Nigeria recently paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi. Explaining the purpose of their visit, the KOICA Country Director, Mr Son Sungil who led the delegation explained that the team had come to Nigeria, as part of the MoU signed with UBEC, to assist Nigerian teachers in the development of digital content for smart schools, especially in the areas of Mathematics and Science. In his remarks, the Executive Secretary expressed delight at the visit and reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to commencing operations in some of the newly constructed smart schools in the country by the beginning of the 2023/24 academic session. He thanked the Korean team for their commitment, efforts and hard work while wishing them success in the course of their assignment. It will be recalled that the UBE Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in October, 2021.

The MoU revolves around three key aspects which include; the supply of studio equipment to selected smart schools, content development, particularly in Mathematics and Science subjects as well as capacity development for teachers and education managers across the country in the use of new ICTs and the Blended Learning (BL) methodology.

1st February, 2023

The Executive Secretary, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, in the company of the National Coordinator, Digital Resource center, UBEC, Prof. Bashir Galadanci, led a team of officers to Lafia, Nasarawa State, for an assessment and monitoring visit to the UBEC Model Smart School of the state under construction.

The purpose of the exercise was to inspect the extent of work done and determine the state’s level of preparedness for the commencement of academic activities in the third term of the 2022/2023 academic session.

7th – 11th November, 2022

The Digital Resource Center, UBEC organized a 5-day workshop to generate guidelines for the development of Blended Learning (BL) lesson plans based on an earlier developed template. The activity is a sequel to a Start-up Workshop that was conducted for the scoping and sequencing of the Primary and JSS curriculum at Starview Palace Hotel, Abuja from 6th-10th June 2022.

The 5-day activity also aimed to train experts on the template which will guide in the development of sample Blended Learning (BL) lesson plans for all subjects from the NERDC-approved curriculum for Primary and JSS as well as formulation of guidelines for the development of the e-content for use in the Model smart schools and 109 E-learning centers in Nigeria.

The blended learning technique is a process of incorporating traditional/conventional methods with modern digital ICT skills for effective teaching/learning outcomes. The technique will be utilized in the enhanced delivery of basic education in Model smart schools which are expected to commence academic activities in January 2023.