Lagos adopts e-learning to boost pupils’ competitiveness

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic and continued closure of schools, Lagos State government has adopted the use of multiple media, including radio, television and the internet to reach the students.

Besides, government said it has worked on a technology device loaded with the Nigerian curriculum that the students can use while at home. With this device, they will be able to continue learning, test themselves and send tests to their teachers who will also be equipped with the device.

To kick-start the process, the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has developed daily lesson programmes on radio and television for Senior Secondary School Students as well as interactive radio instructional programmes for primary school pupils.

The programmes, according to the head, public affairs unit, ministry of education, Mr. Kayode Abayomi are to run throughout the period of the closure of schools in different subjects.

Abayomi said the idea behind it is to get public and private school students to be fully engaged while at home, adding that even if there is a challenge in power supply, they can tune in to Wazobia FM on their rechargeable radio.

“That is the more reason why we adopted the radio programme. As I am speaking with you now, my radio is on, I have a rechargeable radio and even if it does not have the charging point but uses battery, they should be able to tune in to it and know what is going on around them.”

He added that the ministry had already sensitised schools in Lagos, saying, “At the onset of the idea leading to the closure of schools, the commissioner for education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo did a video recording and sent to all the schools in Lagos State. We also sent the video across all social media platforms such so that it could go viral. It trended for quite some time on these platforms. The essence is to be able to pass the message across so that people will be aware that such a programme is going on.”

To ensure that parents also key into the scheme for the benefit of their children, Abayomi said, “Wazobia FM is running the programme for us for free. As a matter of fact, they wrote a letter to the Lagos State government stating their preparedness for partnership on the issue. We have been working together since the very first day; they did the audio recording and jingles.