Dr Hamid Boboyi, Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC), says the Commission commenced Smart School Program because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which lead to the lockdown of the country and closure of schools for nearly one year.
Speaking at the weekend during ground breaking ceremony of the UBEC Modern Smart School Program in Hadeja, Jigawa state, Dr Boboyi said the Smart Schools were designed in categories to boost the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for teaching and learning with an estimated cost of N350 million per school for the state model while the Zonal model with more capacity and ICT infrastructure would cost 600 million to serve each of the six geopolitical zones in the country.
He stated that during the period of COVID-19 lockdown, learners all over the country were at home and not learning because the face to face learning approach is the primary mode of delivering content to learners.
He added that the nation’s educational system must prepare for any situation that could arise to disrupt the teaching and learning process.
The UBEC Executive Secretary said digital and e-learning platforms provided opportunities for both teachers and learners without the constraint of time and space.
According to him, it is expected that deployment of technology for instructional delivery would significantly increase the quality of basic education indeed the Nations learning outcomes.
He further added that UBEC Smart Schools are currently at the completion stages, the plan is that before the end of this year most, if not all would commence academic activities.
“It is my expectation that the standard we are jointly setting up would be sustained and improved upon so as to meet the schools objectives,” he said.
Bobboyi commended the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru for the prompt response for land for the project and also for granting UBEC permission to organize the ground breaking ceremony.
He also commended the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, for his effort in transforming Nigeria’s digital landscape and his support in providing this strategic partnership with UBEC for the development of e-Learning and establishment of smart school programs.
