With support from the Government of South Korea, specifically through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), six model Smart Schools will be established in Nigeria. The disclosure was made by the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, during a meeting with Kim Pan-Kyu, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, at the UBEC Digital Resource Centre in Abuja. During the meeting, Ambassador Kim Pan-Kyu visited the UBEC Digital Resource Centre to assess the amenities designed for training teachers in smart education.
Korean experts were brought into Nigeria to help train Nigerian teachers and head teachers on running smart schools. They also provided training on content development. The UBEC leader expressed gratitude to Korea for their ongoing support, which has helped 14 out of 37 Smart Schools in Nigeria successfully launch. The Ambassador of Korea’s visit to the UBEC Digital Resource Centre has brought great joy to the staff. They are excited to show him the training infrastructure and introduce him to Korean experts who are assisting in training teachers from different regions of Nigeria.
Greater advancement towards intelligent education is ensured.
Their team had the opportunity to visit Korea, and they would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Korean government for its assistance with the Smart School initiative. He mentioned that during their visit to Korea, many teachers, including head teachers, also attended training sessions. Now, they are fortunate to have a team of experts here to provide further knowledge to these teachers on effectively operating a modern smart school similar to the one they have successfully implemented in Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that the implementation of this initiative would propel Nigeria towards greater advancements in the space of intelligent education. Bobboyi acknowledged obstacles such as projects running behind schedule, but remained hopeful that the majority of schools would be up and running by September this year. 14 Smart Schools have already been launched, with the remaining schools expected to follow suit. He also revealed that the studio equipment promised by Korea had been delivered to Nigeria.
Identical equipment will be implemented across all the schools.
Also, KOICA is assisting in setting up six out of the 37 smart schools being built by the Federal Government in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They are working diligently to implement identical equipment in all schools to ensure progress while maintaining quality and standards. The head teachers from different schools, including those not supported by KOICA, are undergoing training. It is proving to be a highly interactive and stimulating activity, he explained.
Bobboyi addressed the prevalent issue of power in Nigeria and its impact on Smart Schools, noting that without reliable power, these schools would not be able to operate effectively. He also acknowledged the challenge of internet connectivity but assured that these obstacles have been taken into consideration during the planning stages of the schools’ establishment. He expressed that they are dedicated to finding solutions to reduce the effects of these obstacles and ultimately triumph over them for the advancement of the smart school initiative and education in Nigeria.
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Moreover, Kim Pan-Kyu, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, has also conveyed his contentment with UBEC’s advancements in smart education in Nigeria, assuring ongoing support from his country. Over the years, the South Korea government has made significant advancements in smart education, with them heavily investing in technology integration in classrooms and online learning platforms. The country has implemented the nationwide initiative called ‘Smart Education’ which aims to promote digital literacy, personalized learning, and innovation in education.
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KOICA: Website
