UNICEF, ABU Zaria partner to promote digital learning

UNICEF has entered into a long-term collaboration with the Department of Science Education, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, to train pre-service teachers on the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that this bold move was part of the strategy to revolutionize teachers’ education in Nigeria.

According to UNICEF, the partnership presents the education sector in the country with an opportunity to transform teaching and learning.

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It is also to prepare a new generation of educators who are proficient in using technology to enrich student learning which would align with global education standards and Nigeria’s educational aspirations.

NLP is a digital learning platform with online, mobile and offline capability that enables continuous access to quality education.

NLP is aimed at supporting children and youths in the continuity of learning and acquisition of skills for the future.

It is a flexible and adaptable platform, allowing learners and teachers to easily adopt it as their learning management system or use it to complement classroom-based learning and existing digital learning platforms.

The partnership between UNICEF and ABU would therefore promote awareness of the platform, enhance teacher professional development, and integrate innovative digital learning content into the curriculum.

Speaking during the signing of the MOU, the Head of Department, Science Education, ABU Zaria, Prof. Jonathan Mari, said that the coming of UNICEF has enhanced the department’s hope of producing quality teachers.

“This has given us the assurance to get ready to work and you know, all of us are all conscious. We work as a team and we will not disappoint.

“Truly speaking, when teachers are not there, you can not have a nation.

”We will continue to educate the teachers so they can have the capacity to improve the quality of education in Nigeria,”he said.

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On his part, the Officer- in-Charge (OIC), UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Idris Baba, said the choice of ABU to pilot the programme was because of its fame.

He said, ”The institution has been at the forefront of training educators who excel in teaching various science subjects.”

Baba, represented by the Education Officer, Bala Dada, said the department was expected to provide a pool of enthusiastic pre-service teachers who can pilot NLP-integrated lessons during their
teaching practice.

“Representatives from UNICEF will work with the department’s curriculum review committee to identify content areas that align with current undergraduate courses.

“A pilot course integrating NLP resources will be tested for one semester, followed by evaluation and feedback for improvement.

“The integrated course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that it remains aligned with the latest trends in educational technology and teaching methodologies,” he explained.

Baba added that NLP would gain recognition as an integral part of the teacher education curriculum at a leading university, which could encourage other institutions to follow suit.

He also said that the department was also expected to modernize its curriculum, preparing its students for a 21st-century educational environment where digital competency is
paramount.

The UNICEF chief added that the collaboration was expected to increase understanding and utilization of the NLP platform among pre-service and in-service teachers in the state and beyond.

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“It will foster continuous professional development for educators while leveraging the extensive resources provided by NLP to enhance teaching methodologies.

“NLP contents will seamlessly be incorporated into the curriculum of the Department of Science Education which aligns with our ongoing curriculum review to ensure a modern and tech-integrated teaching approach, ”he added.

Speaking further, Baba hinted on the possibility of expanding the collaboration across other departments within the faculty of education in the future.

“To help track the success of the collaboration over time, we can research specific improvements in digital literacy, teaching effectiveness, and student engagement over time, “he said.