Against the backdrop that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, a Civil Society Organisation; Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative has urged stakeholders to work together and make education technology in the country a reality for all students.
Global Director of BBYDI, Abideen Olasupo, who made the call on Thursday at the unveiling of the issue brief fact sheet and research titled, “Harnessing education technology in Africa: Scoping study,” stressed the need to embrace the future of education and use it to create a brighter, more equitable world for all.
He said, Nigeria, according to the World Bank, experienced a significant expansion in access to education during the last few decades, stressing that the country still had the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.
“11.1 million children aged between 6 and 15 were out of school in 2020, representing 1 in 12 of all OOS children globally and 22 percent of all children in this age group in Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that “When schools are forced to close or students are unable to attend in-person classes, it can be challenging to continue providing high-quality education.
“This is where education technology comes into play.
“By leveraging the power of technology, we can continue to provide students with access to learning materials, connect them with teachers and peers, and keep them engaged and motivated.
“Edtech provides a bridge for students to continue their education and for teachers to continue teaching, even when they were physically apart.
“It allowed for virtual classrooms, access to learning materials and resources, and communication between teachers and students,” he added.
However, as for edtech, he stressed, “(It) is not just a stopgap solution for the pandemic. It has the potential to transform education and make it more accessible, personalised, and effective for all students. It allows for the use of innovative tools and techniques that can enhance the learning experience and improve student outcomes.”
He, therefore, called for the removal of taxes from devices like laptops, desktop computers, and mobile phones for EdTech to succeed.
Source: The Punch
