_Tasks Oyo Teachers On Effective Classroom Integration
By Sola POPOOLA
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has charged teachers in Oyo State to play a central role in ensuring the effective integration of the Nigeria Learning Passport into classroom teaching and learning.
UNICEF gave the charge on Tuesday at the official launch of the Nigeria Learning Passport platform by the Oyo State Government in Ibadan.
The launch, held on Wednesday at the Local Government Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan, makes Oyo the 26th state to adopt the Nigeria Learning Passport.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF representative, Ms. Lafoucriere, said the collective objective of all stakeholders should be to ensure that every child, irrespective of location or circumstance, has access to quality learning opportunities.
She said the Nigeria Learning Passport, a digital learning initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education supported by UNICEF and Microsoft, was designed to close the learning gap and ensure continuity of learning for children across the country.
Lafoucriere appreciated the Oyo State Government, teachers, development partners and other stakeholders whose contributions made the adoption of the platform possible in the state.
According to her, the success of the initiative will largely depend on how effectively teachers embrace and deploy it in schools.
“The adoption of this platform is a major step towards bridging the learning poverty gap. We appreciate the state government, teachers, development partners and other stakeholders whose contributions had made the adoption of the platform possible,” she said.
“Teachers must play a central role in ensuring that the Nigeria Learning Passport is effectively integrated into classroom teaching and learning. Our collective objective should be to ensure that every child, irrespective of location or circumstance, has access to quality learning opportunities.”
She noted that the platform provides curriculum-aligned content for learners, teachers and parents, and will be particularly useful for children in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
The launch in Oyo State brings the state into the growing list of states adopting the initiative aimed at expanding access to digital education in line with global best practices.
The Nigeria Learning Passport is the result of a strong collaboration between UNICEF, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and several committed partners.
Together:
• Microsoft developed the technology platform.
• The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) provided financial support.
• IHS Towers supported connectivity infrastructure.
• TECNO provided devices.
• Airtel covers data costs for users.
This platform exists because many partners shared a common vision and committed resources to making quality learning accessible to every child.
Speaking at the ceremony, Commissioner for Education, Segun Olayiwola said the launch represented a landmark in the state government’s continuing efforts to reposition education and ensure that the system responds effectively to the realities and demands of the 21st century.
Olayiwola said the rapid transformation brought about by technology had made it necessary for education systems to adapt to changing ways of working, communicating, acquiring knowledge and solving problems.
He said the state government, being committed to human capital development, had a responsibility to ensure that children and teachers were adequately prepared to participate meaningfully in a digital society and economy.
According to Olayiwola, the platform would help take learning beyond the traditional boundaries of the classroom by allowing learners to access educational content and learning resources through digital devices.
“The world is changing rapidly. Technology is transforming the way we work, communicate, acquire knowledge and solve problems. Education cannot remain outside this transformation.
“It is against this background that the Oyo State Government is embracing the Nigeria Learning Passport as an important instrument for strengthening digital learning and expanding access to quality educational resources”.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Bamidele Oyinloye, described the launch as a historic occasion and another milestone in the state’s efforts to transform education through technology and innovation.
Oyinloye said the Nigeria Learning Passport represented more than the introduction of another digital platform, describing it as a deliberate effort to expand access to quality, inclusive, flexible and technology-enabled learning for learners, teachers and other stakeholders.