The Federal Government has rolled out a national plan to provide teachers across Nigeria with free internet access and subsidised smart devices, as part of efforts to advance digital learning in schools.
The announcement was made in a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
Speaking at the Ministerial Roundtable on Zero-Rated Data and Devices for Teachers held in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the new initiative is designed to remove the financial barriers that prevent teachers from embracing technology in classrooms.
The event, organised in partnership with the UK-funded PLANE Programme, marked the launch of the pilot phase of the Zero-Rated Data and Mobile Devices Initiative under the Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) framework. The scheme will prioritise educators in rural communities, providing them with free data and affordable digital devices.
Dr. Alausa also unveiled solar-powered smart boards with embedded curricula and announced the establishment of a Ministerial Implementation Committee (MIC), chaired by him and coordinated by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). Members include the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Airtel, MTN, UBA, AWS, UNICEF, UNESCO, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
He disclosed that plans are underway to create a Digital Training Academy in collaboration with Coursera, AWS, and Pluralsight, while e-learning platforms will be expanded and all public schools equipped with smartboards and artificial intelligence tools by 2027.
Dr. Alausa reaffirmed that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, every teacher will have access to the digital resources needed to enhance learning, saying, “No teacher will be left behind in Nigeria’s transition to digital learning.”
It’s good
This is a very good initiative
I am so impressed over the decisions made by the federal government over the issues concerning fed gvt empowering teachers with internet accessories/ digitals. Infact, we need robots or projectors to use & programmes all the lessons we are to teach in the classroom without having much stresses, becos of ulcer & HBP many teachers are suffering as a result of troubles, hardships, under payment of salary scales according to their levels in services, poor feeding, neglecnce to the teachers by the politicans as a result of poor salary earnings & some members of the public who doesn’t know the value of teachers & their education in the society. Salaries of teachers in Nigeria both state & federal, should be paid highly according to their levels in service, so that teachers will be encouraged to have the motivation & more interest in impacting knowledge into the children or enganging adequatly in teaching the children in schools without been weary, tired or fade up in strongly or constantly releasing what the have for the pupils & students in primary & secondary schools in Nigeria. Many teachers have dumped their teaching professions & jumped into businesses, politics, travelling to UK for the same teaching job in order to make more money there, than to suffer with meager salaries in Nigeria. I also appreciates the fed gvt how they are giving young one in the universities little token as salary in order to prevent too much cultism. Moreso, i also appreciates fed gvt for traing skills they are giving to youths nowadays in nigeria. More power to their elbow. Bravo fed gvt of nigeria, bravo fed ministry of education !!! May the lord help you people to achieve or actualize your dreams towards the goals & objectives of your dreams, objectives & passions to achieve in our country in order to alleviate poverty among cizitens of the country or nation at large. Thanks & remain bless.
Good jobs