Acting President Yemi Osinbajo will today launch Smart Classrooms and Digital Education Initiative in Abuja.
The launch is geared towards the implementation of strategy that will help establish digital education institute and provision of smart learning classrooms across the country.
The initiative, according to the Federal Government, will also serve as a model technology-based classroom.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in a statement yesterday by her media assistant, Desmond Utomwen, said the initiative, which would be implemented in partnership with a Chinese Digital Technology giant, NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited, was in line with the commitment of the government to provide quality education to children as stipulated in Goal 4 SDGs.
She said the initiative was also designed to facilitate investment in the ICT industry by building IT incubators, digital studios and software outsourcing and taining hubs, towards the creation of new jobs in technology and innovation.
Orelope-Adefulire noted that in the pilot phase of the project, her office would collaborate with NetDragon to provide a smart classroom for Pilot Science Nursery/Primary School in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Initiative of Digital Education in Africa (IDEA) was initiated by the Nigerian government and NetDragon through the Public Private Partnership and direct foreign investment, which will facilitate the setting up the National Education Resource Public Service Platform, National Education Community Network Platform, National Digital Talent Training Platform and National Future Education Experience Centre,” she said.
Orelope-Adefulire added that with the initiative, the government aimed to provide high quality digital education resources and a new teaching and collaboration model for basic education, thereby promoting education, equity and improving teaching quality.
In terms of lifelong education, she said the Talent Training Platform would carry out lifelong skills training and intelligent management of talents to help the country achieve talent upgrading and optimal allocation of social resources.
“With the initiative, our aim is to use technology to drive the realisation of the SDGs 4, 8 and 9 regarding quality education, economic growth as well as industry and innovation, thereby creating jobs through the e-learning platforms, educational software and Apps as well as other innovations.
“By 2030, we want to ensure learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development,” Orelope-Adefulire said.
It is expected that as part of the formal launch, an Agreement of Cooperation (AoC) will be signed between the Federal Government and NetDragon.