Education technology company, Skool Media has commissioned three Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres in three Federal Government Unity Schools in Lagos State.
Dubbed ‘Teacher and Student ICT Experience Centre’, the well equipped facilities were built in continuation of Skool Media’s quest to expose Nigerian students and teachers to seamless teaching and learning experiences.
The facilities were launched last week at Federal Science and Technology College, FSTC- Yaba; Queens College- Lagos, and Federal Government College, Ijanikin.
While commissioning the Centres, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arc, Sonny Echono represented by the Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry of Education, Abubakar Isah eulogised Skool Media for the laudable initiative that has added value for Nigerian students in the government schools.
He encouraged students and teachers at the three schools to use the technology experience centres to enhance teaching and learning beyond the fall walls of their classrooms.
The Permanent Secretary; Isah observing some of the students of Federal Government College, Ijanikin, while studying on the laptops at the Student Technology Centre in the school. Standing at the far left is the project Director; Moses Imayi, and behind is the Principal, Federal Government College, Ijanikin , Dr Mrs. OAU Essien; during the commissioning of the centre recently.
“Out of 124 Federal Science and Technology schools across the country, we have approved 24 schools for Skool Media to executive these projects. The seamless integration of the program in the school system is so far commendable,” he added.
According to the Project Director, Skool Media, Moses Imayi some of the 21st Century learning skills the students acquire at the experience centres include: coding; google digital skills; information retrieval—information literacy using key search engines; soft skills-EQ, team building, creative thinking and complex problem solving, personal branding; creative writing and public speaking workshops; Gamification, AR and VR mode or learning; hackathons, summer bootcamps, competitions amongst students; and hub unique programmes.
“There will be Ideation Day, Digital Innovation workshops, meetups, teachers capacity building: teach and techie day, teachathon, among others,” he added.
Over N500 Million have been spent by the company to deliver the students and teachers technology experience centres, digitalise classrooms, e-libraries facilities, serene environment, and facilitators across some of the federal government owned schools.
Imayi explained that “the leaders of tomorrow are not those who can read and write but those who are technologically savvy as the world is turning to a digital village. Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind, and this is why we are doing what we are doing so that Nigerian students can also be at per with their counterparts across the globe.”
“So today we have presented important ICT tools required in classrooms for the schools. We provided laptop, interactive white board, so that teachers can project onto the smart board, with the education software on the laptop and projector, the teachers can source their teaching aids and project it seamlessly with the presentation facilities.
“We adopted a Public Private Partnership model which have ensured that their is provision for uninterrupted power supply during the school hours. There other plans which will be unveiled in the coming weeks as there are boundless opportunities on skill acquisition and empowerment programes designed for students.”
According to the Director/Principal of the three schools, Skool Media has continued to bridge some gaps with regards digital skills training and the provision of ICt tools for teachers and students.
They reckoned that Skool Media has set a pace for others to follow adding that the facilities will enhance teaching and learning among the teachers and students and make education fun.
“So far we can confirm that basic digital skills are being provided at the technology centres for teachers and students. And these have foster teaching and learning techniques that will keep students and teaching staff abreast with the modern technology for education system ,” said, Dr. (Mrs) Yakubu Oyinloye; Queens College. In her remark.
Read Also: Skool Media: We Innovate, Redefine Edu-tech Solutions Beyond Nigeria
“We hope this standard is adopted across board to give other schools this same awesome experience. Here at FSTC, the Skool Media facilitators have been very helpful in ensuring that the projectors in the classrooms are prepared and ready for use; the e-libraries are connected and so far, teachers have not been dictating notes with the aid of the technology facilities,” said, Dr. (Mrs) O. Ufoegbune; FSTC, Yaba.
On her part, the Principal, Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Dr Mrs. OAU Essien commended Skool Media team for the continuous support for the advancement of education and the passion they have worked with the school.
She noted that an improved collaborative effort is needed to ensure sustainability of developmental projects in the school.
She said, “I want to thank School Media for undertaking more ventures. They have pledged to provide four units of standing Air Conditioner (AC) to support the Schools Hall. The students and teachers technology experience centres are awesome.”
NewswatchNigeria can report that some of the students were allowed to display the coding skills, Google Digital Skills; web design and animation illustration skill they have learnt among others skills to the permanent Secretary during the tour of the projects.