The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has signed a long-term collaboration with the Department of Science Education, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, to train pre-service teachers on the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP).
According to UNICEF, the partnership will present the education sector with an opportunity to transform teaching and learning and also prepare a new generation of educators who are proficient in using technology to enrich student learning, aligning with global education standards and Nigeria’s educational aspirations.
NLP is a digital learning platform with online, mobile, and offline capability that enables continuous access to quality education and support children and youths in the continuity of learning and acquisition of skills for the future.
Speaking during a brief signing ceremony in his office, the Head of Department, Science Education, ABU Zaria, Professor Jonathan Saleh Mari, noted that the coming of UNICEF has enhanced the department's hope of producing quality teachers.
He said the initiative is a user-friendly and adaptable platform which allows learners and teachers to easily adopt it as their learning management system or use it to complement classroom-based learning and existing digital learning platforms.
Professor Saleh who pointed that teachers play a crucial role in nation building, underscored the need to continue to educate the teachers for maximum benefit.
On his part, the Officer in Charge (OIC), UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Idris Baba, who was represented by the Education Officer, Bala Dada, said the choice of ABU to pilot the program was because the institution has been at the forefront of training educators who excel in teaching various science subjects.
According to him, the department is expected to provide a pool of enthusiastic pre-service teachers who can pilot NLP-integrated lessons during their teaching practice.
Bala said the representatives from UNICEF will work with the department’s curriculum review committee to identify content areas that align with current undergraduate courses.
He further explained that the Department of Science Education is also expected to modernise its curriculum, preparing its students for a 21st-century educational environment where digital competency is paramount.