Nigeria’s smart schools consistent with global standard – Commission

The Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC says the 37 smart schools built across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, are consistent with world standards and global best practice.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Hamid Bobboyi, made the declaration at the end of a study tour to South Korea.

Study Tour

During the study tour, the delegation visited some smart schools in the country where it became evident that the smart schools being established by the Federal Government were of exceptionally high standards in terms of the befitting school infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment and teaching facilities, competent and highly trained teachers, and the modern Blended Learning methodology to be used.

The delegation also participated in several seminars and interactive sessions where specialists from UBION (the education technology company contracted by KOICA) and officials of the South Korean Ministry of Education took turns explaining the rapid educational progress recorded by Korea and the meticulous processes followed to introduce and sustain smart education in the country.

During one of the seminars, Bobboyi explained that Nigeria had a lot to learn from the Korean education system and promised that the lessons learnt would go a long way in adding value to the Nigerian Smart Schools Programme, in particular, and strengthening the entire education system in general.

He further noted the existing cordial relationship between the two countries, emphasizing that the study trip and the other interventions by KOICA will go a long way in strengthening the mutually beneficial affiliation between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and South Korea.

The delegation paid a courtesy call to the Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Aliyu Magashi, visited some booths at the Edu Tech Korea Fair and participated in some cultural tours.

The one-week study tour which held between the 20th and 26th of September, 2022, comprised of some State Universal Basic Education Board chairmen and top officials from UBEC, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the National Teachers Institute (NTI).

The tour was organized by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between UBEC and KOICA on strengthening the ICT utilization capability of smart schools teachers, improvement of accessibility to high-quality teaching and learning contents, and infrastructural assistance to 6 smart schools.

PIAK