NIGERIA LEARNING PASSPORT PLATFORM RECORDS 500,000 USERS:UNICEF 01-09-23
By: Sadiq Aminu LEARNING PASSPORT
UNICEF Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), says the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) platform, a digital learning channel has recorded 500,000 users.
The platform provides educational pathways that cater for a diverse range of users – including students, teachers, parents, and caregivers.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, UNICEF Nigeria Chief of Education Dr Saadhna Panday emphasized that digital learning had emerged as the future of education, and by investing in the platform, Nigeria was paving the way for children and young adults to thrive in a digital economy.
Dr Panday explained that the NLP offers interactive simulations and cutting-edge courses in fields such as computer and agricultural science, empowering the younger generation with the requisite skills for the future.
“Reaching half a million users is not just a number; it reflects the impact we are making in ensuring every child and young individual in Nigeria gets the opportunity to learn, regardless of their circumstance,”
“Our goal, in collaboration with FME, İs to reach 1.5 million NLP users by the end of 2024, and with the unwavering support from our partners, we are well on our way” Dr Panday said.
She maintained that teachers benefit from the platform by accessing invaluable resources for professional development, ensuring that they are adequately equipped to provide dynamic and interactive learning experiences.
‘’Teachers, too, benefit immensely from the platform, accessing invaluable resources for professional development, ensuring that they are adequately equipped to provide dynamic, interactive learning experiences. Parents and caregivers are not left out, as they can support their child’s learning trajectory, starting from an early age with the platform’s playful learning courses’’.
The UNICEF Nigeria Chief of Education explained that the learning platform which is free operates actively across 18 states with over 15,000 curriculum-aligned resources available in English, Hausa, lgbo, and Yoruba.
According to Dr Dr Panday, With the support of Airtel Africa, the NLP is accessible at no cost on all Airtel devices. IHS is also providing support to ensure that schools are connected to the internet. These public-private partnerships have ensured that the digital learning divide is being bridged, and every child, regardless of connectivity access, has an opportunity to learn.
UNICEF and partners are investing in necessary infrastructure, like data, computers, smart devices, internet access, and teacher capacity development, to bring digital learning to every child and young person in Nigeria
Dr Panday affirmed that UNICEF was introducing various initiatives to curb the high number of out of school children.