Resources

The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) team visited Aisha Garba, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission. During the visit, Mr. Son Sungil, the KOICA Country Director and head of the delegation, congratulated her on her recent appointment as UBEC Executive Secretary. It will be recalled that the UBE Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KOICA in October 2021. The MoU revolves around three key aspects including the supply of studio equipment to selected smart schools, Content development, particularly in Mathematics and Science subjects and Capacity development for teachers and education managers across the country in using new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the Blended Learning (BL) methodology.

A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) met with Prof. Bashir Galadanci, the National Coordinator of the Digital Resource Center, to discuss collaboration on the Effective Schools Programme (ESP). JICA’s lead delegate, Hikaru Kusakabe, engaged in productive discussions to outline a clear pathway for the ESP. These discussions resulted in a shared understanding of priorities, defined timelines, and actionable steps for successfully implementing the 2025 Grant Aid Project. The partnership aims to enhance education in Nigeria by focusing on improvements in Science and Mathematics Education, upgrading school infrastructure, and conducting the Basic Education Data Collection Survey (BEDS). JICA will provide technical expertise and grant aid, positioning the ESP as a cornerstone of its upcoming project, aiming to elevate educational standards across Nigeria.

The Universal Basic Education Commission Digital Resource Centre conducted a four-day workshop on Design Thinking, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (DTCRA) curriculum review and development of a Teachers’ Guide in collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC). Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi the National Coordinator, UBEC DRC, Prof. Bashir Galadanci relayed to the participants that the workshop was designed to introduce educators and professionals to innovative methods for integrating robotics, artificial intelligence, and design thinking into the basic education curricula. The four-day activity focused on fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills among learners by leveraging AI-driven robotics and coding modules, thus equipping educators with practical tools for effective implementation in smart schools. During the workshop, stakeholders from the NERDC presented an overview of the robotics curriculum and key guidelines for developing the Teachers’ Guide which was later developed. They also provided feedback on the draft curriculum and Teachers’ Guide, offering insights and suggestions for improvement. Workshop sessions covered key topics such as the philosophy of the DTCRA curriculum, the application of robotics frameworks, and the role of emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and virtual labs. It also deliberated on competency-based assessments and continuous feedback mechanisms for improved student engagement and learning outcomes. The recommendations from the DCTRA workshop highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between UBEC DRC and NERDC to ensure better content alignment. Additionally, there is a need to create a dedicated online platform for ongoing engagement among stakeholders, as well as to organize follow-up training sessions aimed at addressing gaps and reinforcing the implementation process.

The Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) held its first Best Practice Conference of Smart Schools in Nigeria at the UBEC Digital Resource Center, Abuja. The two-day event featured an award ceremony in categories such as; the best KOICA-Supported Smart School, the Best Students (Primary/JSS), the Best Teachers (Primary/JSS), and the Best Content (Mathematics/Sciences). During the occasion, UBEC DRC Staff served as evaluators in all the award categories based on specific criteria for the entries received from the Smart Schools. The award for the Best Smart School in first place went to UBE Model Smart School, Lafia, Nasarawa State, while Kano and Bauchi States received second and third positions respectively. The Best Student for Primary and JSS was awarded to UBE Model Smart School, Tarda, Kano State, securing first place, while Cross River and Bauchi States took second and third place, respectively. Kano Smart School received the award for best teacher in the Primary section while Cross River Smart School won in the JSS section. In the Best Content category, Smart School Bauchi won the Best Content in Mathematics award, while Cross River State received Best Content in Science. There are six KOICA-supported States under the PMC Service for improving multimedia learning environments and teacher capacity development for public primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Nigeria. They include Bauchi, Cross River, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Kano States and the FCT, Abuja.The Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) held its first Best Practice Conference of Smart Schools in Nigeria at the UBEC Digital Resource Center, Abuja.