18th-29th September 2023

Thirteen UBE Model Smart Schools located in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Osun, and Oyo states have fulfilled the requirements to commence operations in the September 2023/2024 academic session. In light of this, the UBE Commission conducted a school-based training to ensure that teachers in these smart schools are fully prepared to deliver smart education to learners.

The training exercise aimed to familiarize smart school administrators and teachers with the operation and management of smart school infrastructure and systems. It also developed the capacity of teachers to integrate technology into pedagogy practice using the blended learning technique thereby augmenting traditional teaching methods through the use of technology.

The methodology applied for the training activity involved a combination of facilitator-led, hands-on practical and interactive sessions. This ensured that participants understood the concepts and learned how to apply them in an actual classroom setting. The training exercise was conducted in 2 phases with 7 states in the 1st phase from 18th-22nd September and 6 states in the 2nd phase from 25th–29th September, in the Smart School premises of each State.

During the training, experts in Blended Learning and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilitated the sessions. The training modules covered various topics which included: The Effective Use of Smart School Technology and Tools, Strategies and Best practices for Blended Learning, Classroom management in a digital environment, Assessment and Evaluation in a technology-enhanced classroom, and Troubleshooting and Technical support.

14th-15th September 2023

The 2-day meeting focused on the discussion and review of the structure and operation of the Learning Management System and School Management System in the smart schools to address the challenges in utilizing the systems. The status of the content developed by the service providers was also reviewed in light of the proposed take-off of 13 new smart schools in the respective States of the Federation.

The meeting was conducted through various presentations which dwelled on; the review of the scoped and sequenced curriculum and the need to adhere to it during classroom lesson delivery, however, it was agreed that the scoped and sequenced curriculum cannot be changed but teachers are allowed to modify it accordingly. A template on the basic criteria required for multimedia content to be adjudicated all-encompassing was also presented with emphasis on content quality and a learner-centred approach in using the station rotation in the smart schools.

During the meeting, several recommendations were made and the service providers/developers were tasked with delivering new content that meets the criteria set by the DRC expected to be available before the resumption of schools. To make it easy for teachers to navigate both the LMS and SMS platforms, there is a need to create a user manual. The teachers’ guide should be user-friendly, timely and accessible to both teachers and learners. To enhance the learning experience, the LMS outlook should appear in full-screen mode, while content for lower primary should be more pictorial and interactive. Additionally, an ECCDE profile configuration should be established.

The meeting effectively tackled the challenges faced by the two smart schools during the pilot third term. Furthermore, it addressed other crucial issues that are essential for the smooth operation of the LMS and SMS platforms in the Smart Schools.

11th-12th September 2023

The 2-day training workshop was organized to equip the Resource Persons with the requisite competencies and cascade the same down to the smart schoolteachers. Given the crucial role of smart schools in providing access to world-class quality education through the utilization of technology for better learning outcomes, it is paramount to ensure that the teachers responsible for delivering the curriculum possess the required knowledge and skills.

In light of the above, the conduct of the workshop focused on familiarizing the trainers with the smart school curriculum, teaching methodologies, and the integration of technology into the learning process. The trainers were also equipped with the necessary skills to effectively train the teachers in utilizing smart school resources, including digital tools, interactive whiteboards, tablets, and other technological devices. Additionally, the activity aimed to guide effective instructional design, assessment strategies and classroom management techniques specific to the smart school environment.

The workshop provided comprehensive training to all facilitators responsible for conducting the school-based training sessions. The facilitators will in due course step down the necessary knowledge and competencies to effectively guide the smart schoolteachers in the adoption of smart pedagogy practices. Topics such as instructional design, technology integration, assessment strategies, effective communication techniques and the blended learning methodology were covered during the train-the-trainer activity.

Teachers in nine (9) UBEC model smart schools in Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, Osun and Oyo States are to be trained in preparation for their scheduled take-off in the September 2023/2024 academic session.

9th September 2023

The UBEC DRC held a two-day meeting with Blended Learning Experts to discuss and explore various aspects of blended learning methodologies ahead of the proposed school-based training in preparation for the commencement of academic activities in nine (9) Smart Schools across the Country.

The meeting deliberated on the observed strengths and weaknesses of the station rotation model in the two pilot schools. The experts also strategized on an improved and easily implementable learner-centred blended learning approach for the Model Smart Schools while reviewing and re-evaluating the training methodology, content and delivery techniques.

During the meeting, the experts shared experiences, insights and strategies to optimize the integration of digital technologies and traditional teaching methods. Given the challenges encountered from the recently concluded pilot third term, it was agreed that there is a need to review existing teaching approaches in line with global best practices on learner-centred pedagogy. This will help educators gain a deeper understanding of the instructional design principles required for effective blended learning implementation (the station rotation model in particular) in preparation for the planned take-off of nine smart schools in September 2023.

The objectives of the meeting were achieved through interactive group discussions among the blended learning team of experts, consequent upon which the best strategy was adopted in implementing the station rotation model. The strategy entailed having only two stations instead of the earlier three as operated during the pilot third term in Kano and Kwara Smart Schools. The reviewed current two stations will comprise the online and offline stations, while the initial third teacher-led station will only involve the teacher presenting the lesson in front of the class.

6th-8th September 2023

The UBEC e-Learning Centers play a vital role in providing quality education to learners in remote areas and ensuring access to educational resources. In cognizance of this crucial part, the Commission equipped and furnished one hundred and nine 109 schools (3 per senatorial district) as designated Centers for the e-learning programme across Nigeria.

Consequently, in order to ensure the successful take-off of the e-learning programme, the Commission through the DRC conducted a three-day training course to develop the capacities of the headteachers managing these centres on the integration of technology in education and further enhance the effectiveness of the centers.

The exercise offered specialized training on the concept and practice of Blended Learning (BL) to the Headteachers of e-learning centers, provided basic and appropriate ICT training and offered leadership training for the head teachers of the e-learning centers. The training sessions were facilitated by Resource persons from Universities and Colleges of Education with Blended Learning expertise and ICT speciality, who intensively administered and equipped the Headteachers with the rudiments of the BL techniques and the utilization of technology in classroom lesson delivery as would be applied in the e-learning centers starting September 2023. The training sessions enlightened the head teachers on the objectives, strategies and best practices required to effectively run an e-learning center.

28th August 2023

The meeting was held to verify that all project sites were fully prepared for the supply and installation of studio equipment and to provide a clear and concise timetable for the upcoming smart school inspection visits by KOICA. According to the DRC, currently, only nine smart schools are ready for the commencement of the new 2023/2024 academic session. This number may be reviewed depending on the state of readiness of other schools before the year ends.

In the course of the meeting, KOICA presented some requests which were subsequently reviewed by the DRC. The requests included the need for DRC personnel to accompany them to the smart school project sites, for security arrangements to ensure their safety during inspection visits and for information to be passed on to SUBEB to prepare for logistics in the states to be visited. The DRC approved all of KOICA’s requests except for one. Instead of sending DRC staff to accompany them, the Department of Physical Planning (DPP) staff will go with them. KOICA then requested that the DPP staff to be assigned should possess knowledge of the smart school project, which the DRC will consider.

A comprehensive schedule was also presented by KOICA for the Korean team of equipment experts’ visits to the smart school project sites. The visit will commence in Nasarawa state, followed by Bauchi and Kano. A market survey will be conducted in Lagos, and then the team will proceed to Akure, Ekiti, Anambra, and finally Calabar. The final schedule is subject to flight availability during the proposed period.

Furthermore, discussions regarding the design and branding of the KOICA/UBEC logo to be displayed on the content and studio equipment of the UBE smart schools were also held. It was agreed that any project done jointly by UBEC and KOICA would feature both logos. Otherwise, only the KOICA logo should appear.

17th August 2023

A meeting was held between the DRC and Galaxy Backbone to assess the organization’s readiness to provide Internet connectivity and ensure the preparedness of its Data Server. The objectives of the meeting were to confirm that Galaxy Backbone is capable of efficiently delivering services to the DRC, smart schools, and e-learning centers. These infrastructures are essential for the successful launch of smart schools.

Galaxy Backbone’s technical representative assured the DRC that they were fully prepared to begin the project as requested by UBEC. The project was divided into five components, involving the installation of equipment in seven smart schools. Unfortunately, the Lagos, Edo, and Imo State Smart Schools are not yet ready, while Bauchi, Nasarawa, Katsina States and the FCT are ready. The installation process is expected to take roughly two weeks. Additionally, the project involves collocating/changing the server, part of which will be located at the DRC permanent site, as well as setting up internet connectivity at the DRC permanent site.

During the meeting, certain areas were identified that require urgent attention. On top of the priority list is moving the data centre to the DRC permanent site. This is crucial as it will provide service to all 37 smart schools. Furthermore, three other connectivity components needed attention. These include internet connectivity for the DRC, the 7 zonal schools (only 4 of which are currently operational), and the 17 smart schools that are ready to launch. Galaxy Backbone suggested using a Wireless Access Network (WAN) to access resources and monitoring can be done using a VPN to cover the WAN from the Digital Resource Centre.

7th August 2023

Headteachers, Heads of ECCDE, and ICT Managers play a critical role in the success of basic education, particularly in smart schools. Thus, it is imperative to have highly skilled professionals in these slot gacor hari ini positions across the 37 smart schools in Nigeria. To ensure that only the most effective candidates are selected, the DRC hosted an interactive session for prospective candidates from all 36 states and the FCT.

Each State was requested to nominate four ICT Managerial candidates, two Headteacher candidates and two Heads of ECCDE candidates for the panel to interact with and select the most qualified based on established requirements. With a total of 74 candidates from 10 States comprising, Adamawa, Bauchi, Cross River, Nasarawa, Katsina, Osun, FCT, Niger, Oyo, and Sokoto in attendance, the selection process was highly competitive.

A 10-member panel was formed and met before the start of the interview to concretize the modalities for the selection process. The team developed a checklist with scores for each of the 12 required attributes for the Administrators (Head Teachers and Heads of ECCDE) and the ICT managers. Throughout the interactive session, each panel engaged with participants from one state per hour and subsequently allocated scores. These scores were then expertly combined to derive an accurate average score for each candidate. Nonetheless, it was discovered that several candidates did not meet the necessary qualifications, such as being underage, lacking TRCN registration, or falling short of certain essential attributes.

The selection process was indeed a success. However, it was noted that a few of the potential administrators and ICT managers displayed a lack of proficiency in ICT. It may be worthwhile, therefore, to provide them with extensive training to ensure they can effectively manage the smart schools.

3rd-4th August 2023

The two-day activity was aimed at scrutinizing the outcomes of the recently concluded Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning activity to adequately prepare for the September 2023/2024 academic session. A team of experts comprising UBEC-DRC personnel and resource persons were sent to observe, inspect and monitor the activities in the pilot schools earlier in the month. The report by each State was categorized into Technical Support, Monitoring and Evaluation, Curriculum and Syllabus, Findings and Recommendations.

The findings in Kano smart school, Tarda reveal that although all teachers understand the tenets of blended learning, there were some challenges encountered during the pilot third term. These include the transition to the station rotation model was not done in an orderly manner; therefore, classroom management was affected. Timing was not properly adhered to, the role of the teacher as a facilitator in blended learning was not observed and the objective of each class was not noted by each teacher, thereby, learning achievement was not ascertained. Other challenges consist of the punctuality of teachers to the classroom, water supply issues and the problems of electricity supply to the school.

Similarly, in Kwara State Smart School, Ilorin, the teachers made use of the appropriate curriculum in preparing their topic and lesson plan while learners in the upper basic collaborated well and used the technology better than learners in the lower basic classes. The rotation from station to station was smooth with a song to signify the transition time within the allotted time frame.

Both schools were facing challenges related to their electricity supply and alternative sources of power. Additionally, at the time of the exercise, the Kwara and Kono smart schools did not have a functional water supply system.