Nigerian government to launch Smart Classrooms, Digital Education Project | EduCeleb
Ahmed Iyanda
13th August 2018
The Federal Government has begun moves to establish a digital education institute and provide smart learning classrooms across the country as a way of boosting investments in the Information and Communication Technology.
A statement EduCeleb.com received from the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire states that the project will be officially launched on Tuesday in Abuja by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
According to the national SDGs adviser said that the Smart Classrooms and Digital Education initiative, will be implemented in partnership with a Chinese Digital Technology giant, NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited and is in line with the commitment of the government to continue to provide quality education to Nigerian children as stipulated in Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals.
She added that it was designed to facilitate investments in the ICT industry by building IT Incubators, Digital Studios and Software Outsourcing and Training Hubs, towards the creation of new jobs in the area of Technology and Innovation.
Mrs Orelope-Adefulire noted that in the pilot phase of the project, her office is collaborating with NetDragon to provide a smart classroom to the Pilot Science Nursery/Primary School in Abuja.
In her words, “The Initiative of Digital Education in Africa otherwise known as IDEA was initiated by the Nigerian Government and NetDragon through the Public Private Partnership and direct Foreign Investment that will facilitate the setting up of the National Education Resource Public Service Platform, National Education Community Network Platform, National Digital Talent Training Platform, and National Future Education Experience Centre.”
The SSAP-SDGs added further that with the initiative, the government aims to provide high-quality digital education resources and a new teaching and collaboration model for basic education in Nigeria, thereby promoting education equity and improving teaching quality.
“In terms of lifelong education, the Talent Training Platform will carry out lifelong skills training and intelligent management of talents in Nigeria to help Nigeria achieve talent upgrading and optimal allocation of social resources.”
“With the initiative, our aim is to use technology to drive the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals 4, 8 and 9 regarding Quality Education, Economic Growth as well as Industry & Innovation, thereby creating jobs through the E-Learning Platforms, Educational Software and Apps as well as other innovations. By 2030, we want to ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development,” Orelope-Adefulire added.
The initiative according to the SSAP-SDGs will also facilitate and promote investment in the ICT industry by building IT Incubators, Digital Studios and Software Outsourcing and Training Hubs, towards to the creation of new jobs in the area of Technology and Innovation.
As part of the formal launch, an Agreement of Cooperation (AoC) is expected to be signed between the Federal Government and NetDragon, represented by its chairman, Dejian Liu.