President Bola Tinubu has given the go-ahead for three new strategies to boost the nation’s Education system. These frameworks will work to completely transform the sector, focusing on enhancing learning and skills, boosting enrollment rates, and ensuring the safety of students across the country. The announcement was made by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations, in a statement released in the capital city of Abuja. He stated that the endorsed strategies are reflected in the acronym DOTS, which stands for Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training & Development, and Skill Development & Acquisition.
He also gave his approval for a comprehensive census to be carried out in order to tackle the lack of organized, reliable, and genuine data regarding the sector in Nigeria. According to Mr. Ngelale, this census will cover details about every educational institution in the country, ranging from primary schools to universities, including information about their facilities, proximity to other schools, resources, and more. The census will also gather data on all teachers in Nigeria, including their qualifications, training, and support they have received.
Educational development will be made accessible to everyone.
Every student in all levels of education regardless of gender, examination performance, and other factors, will benefit. According to him, the data collected will play a crucial role in shaping the strategies for enhancing the training and professional growth of teachers at the federal and state levels. Additionally, the information will offer insights into the gender distribution among students, both boys and girls, their individual educational requirements, and the reasons for their attendance or dropout rates through continual monitoring and annual reports.
Additionally, he mentioned that the information would be shared through a specialized portal within the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as with state governors and local government chairpersons for real-time monitoring. By implementing this new data tracking system, the government will have the ability to monitor student progress more effectively. This will provide a data-driven approach to interventions, particularly for out-of-school children, girls, and those with specific learning disabilities. Regarding learning and training for out-of-school children, the ministry is actively carrying out the government’s policy through the work of four of its agencies.
Out-of-school children’s concerns will be greatly improved.
About two million beneficiaries have already been identified, with expectations that the new system-wide policy will greatly improve the educational opportunities for out-of-school children nationwide. When discussing teacher development and support, it was mentioned that the Federal Ministry of Education aims to provide training and assistance for teachers in digital skills to promote the effective use of Technology within classrooms. It is anticipated that this initiative will enhance the use of technology and digital tools for educators and students across various educational stages.
The Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework aims to promote a wide range of skills within the system, ensuring that Nigerian students are well-prepared with the necessary knowledge and values to contribute effectively to society. The framework aims to equip Nigerian students at all educational levels with the necessary skills to thrive in the modern global economy, ensuring that future generations are well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. Mr. Ngelale believes that by addressing skill gaps, improving quality, and tackling Unemployment through the acquisition of specific skill sets and general knowledge, this framework will have a positive impact.
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Once all those are fully implemented, these programs will successfully reset learning and bridge the gaps in the system for overall improvement. Collaboration among educators, students, parents, and other stakeholders can lead to a more holistic approach to education. By working together, different perspectives and ideas can be shared, leading to improved learning outcomes for students. It can also help to create a supportive community among educators, students, and parents. This sense of community can lead to better communication, trust, and cooperation, ultimately enhancing the overall learning environment.