Category: News and Events

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DRC meets Galaxy Backbone on Internet Connectivity/Data Servers

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.

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DRC hold Interactive Sessions with Prospective Heads of Smart Sch

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.

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DRC Conducts a 2-day Skills Gap Analysis Workshop

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.

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Ubion team Visit Model Smart School in Tarda, Kano State

21st-22nd July 2023



The Ubion Consortium Korean team, the consultants for the Smart School Programme led by Prof. Dae Joon Hwang paid a scheduled visit to the Model Smart School in Tarda Kano State. The purpose of their visit was to obtain firsthand information on how the smart school is operating in the pilot third term.

The team went around the school and observed lesson deliveries in the classrooms while noting the use of digital tools and the utilization of the blended learning techniques by the teachers and how the learners are responding to them. The visit was quite revealing to the Ubion team who were visibly impressed by the capacity of the smart schoolteachers but stated that more needs to be done to further strengthen their capacities, especially in the aspect of time and classroom management as well as the usage of the blended learning methodology. Particularly, the team observed that the station rotation model needs to be readjusted to curb incidences of disruptions during classes.

It was, however, a generally productive visit for the Ubion Korea team to the UBE Model smart school in Tarda, Kano State.

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Executive Secretary’s Delegation Visits UBE Smart School, Kano

22nd June 2023



The Executive Secretary of the UBE Commission, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, represented by the Director of Internal Audit, Alh Rilwan Jaafar paid a visit to the UBE Model smart school in Tarda, Kano State. The Director was accompanied by the Acting Chairperson SUBEB and the Coordinator of the Kano State UBEC office.

The delegation was in the smart school to determine the extent to which teaching and learning activities were conducted during the pilot third-term phase. The representative of the UBEC Executive Secretary and his team while meeting with the Ubion team also appreciated Professor Hwang for their continuous support and collaboration with the Commission on the smart schools’ programme.

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DRC Conducts a 4-day Training Course for Smart School Personnel

8th-11th August 2023

The training course was specifically designed for principals, ICT managers, head teachers, and heads of ECCDE (Early Childhood Care and Development Education). The course aimed to enhance their knowledge and skills in utilizing digital resources and technology slot gacor hari ini in education. The training also emphasized the importance of the role of technology in transforming education.

During the four-day exercise, various topics related to blended learning were covered through presentations. These included blended learning models, managing resources for blended learning, learning management systems, school management systems, leadership roles and responsibilities, digital literacy, digital security and safety, technology integration, and interactive teaching methods. Experienced educators and experts in the related fields delivered these presentations and provided valuable insights and practical strategies for operating in a technologically driven school system. Attendees had the chance to discover the newest educational technologies, explore digital resources, and learn innovative teaching methods.

The training course concluded with a closing ceremony, where participants received commendations from the resource persons and directors of SUBEB overseeing smart schools, recognizing their dedication and commitment to enhancing their digital literacy skills. The event also provided an opportunity for reflection and feedback, allowing participants to share their thoughts and suggestions for future training initiatives.

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DRC Provides Technical Support for Smart School Teachers in Kwara

5th-9th June 2023



Through its Digital Resource Centre, the Universal Basic Education Commission provided a five-day technical support activity for the UBE Model Smart School in Ilorin, Kwara State. A technical team of experts comprising UBEC DRC staff headed by Dr Hafsat Lawal Kontagora and 4 resource persons visited the Smart School in Ilorin, to conduct the exercise which included; technical observation, assessment, mentorship and the provision of support to the teachers who have been trained on the blended learning techniques, particularly the utilization of the Station Rotation Model as well as the use of digital tools during lesson delivery.

The objectives of the Technical Support Session were to strengthen the capacity of UBEC smart school teachers for effective delivery of the teaching/learning content using the station rotation model, to identify core areas of challenges and immediately provide remedial interventions, to obtain a first-hand understanding of core administrative issues and their impact on the academic programmes of the UBEC Smart School. The exercise was also designed to provide technical support services to teachers and education managers for improved performance.

The exercise was successful as both field officers, a technical team of experts and teachers jointly explored creative ways to implement the station rotation model. It is expected that gains from the exercise should be effectively harnessed for the efficiency of the smart school academic activities.

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DRC holds meeting with the Department of Academic Services, UBEC

30th May 2023



The Digital Resource Center held a meeting with the Department of Academic Services to chart a course for the commencement of operations of its e-learning programme by September 2023. The meeting agenda also consisted of providing updates on the smart schools and E-learning programmes, mapping out strategies towards the utilization of the e-learning laboratories in the states and planning ways forward towards the successful implementation of the e-learning programme.

The meeting was informed that the Executive Secretary is expecting the e-learning programme to start activities by September 2023. To that end, deadlines need to be set and met to achieve results in both the smart schools and e-learning programmes. Currently, a pilot third term is being run in Kano and Kwara smart schools with minimum requirements after the teachers were sufficiently trained to function in those schools. In that regard, the e-learning programme may wish to equally adopt a pilot phase in some of its centers.

At the end of the meeting, it was concluded that the DRC can assist the e-learning programme in the aspects of; Teacher training, Content development and the development of a viable ‘model’ for the e-learning centers to strengthen the system and start the implementation of the e-learning programme by September 2023.

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UBEC DRC Conducts a 2-day Scoping and Sequencing Exercise

5th-6th August 2023

The 2-day activity was organized to ascertain the availability status of scoping and sequencing in all subjects and levels as well as to develop a new syllabus from the existing curriculum and give structure to the lesson plan. The breakdown of activities to be undertaken during the exercise was outlined by providing a spreadsheet containing all the subjects offered at the basic education level. The slot gacor hari ini major highlights considered for the activity consisted of categorizing subjects offered by each class (ECCDE – JSS 3) and ascertaining whether scoping and sequencing have been done or not.

Five groups were created to study the curriculum about the instructional materials, with a quick review done by the team to verify the classes, the subjects available and those that are not. A spreadsheet was also created to indicate the progress of the scoping and sequencing exercise. After the preliminary tasks are completed, the schools will be urged to connect to the Google Drive account to facilitate the activity by arranging the lesson plans and schemes of work. The teachers will also be encouraged to create their content and not depend entirely on the Learning Management System.

Additionally, the subject experts were tasked with making a scoping and sequencing for the EECDE class and discussing with English and Mathematics subject experts about verbal aptitude and quantitative reasoning to be regarded as separate subjects.

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DRC holds Interactive Meeting with CSEA

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.

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