The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, says the 37 smart schools being built by the Federal Government in different states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are consistent with global standards of smart education.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, stated this at the end of a study tour to South Korea with some SUBEB chairmen and top officials from UBEC, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the National Teachers Institute, NTI.
UBEC said in a statement by its Head of Public Relations, David Apeh, that the one-week study tour was organized by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, KOICA, as part of a memorandum of understanding, MoU, 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.
“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 to explain the rapid educational progress recorded by Korea and the meticulous processes followed to introduce and sustain smart education in the country,” the commission said.
It quoted Bobboyi as stating that Nigeria has 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.
The UBEC boss noted the existing cordial relationship between the two countries and stressed that the study trip and other interventions by KOICA will go a long way in strengthening the mutually beneficial affiliation between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of South Korea. The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, His Excellency Alhaji Aliyu Magashi, and visited some booths at the Edu Tech Korea Fair as well as participated in some cultural tours.
