Nation
Stakeholders Make Case For Teachers’ Digital Literacy
Education stakeholders in Kaduna State on Friday advocated for adequate digital literacy for teachers in public and private schools to improve learning and teaching outcomes in the state.
The stakeholders made the call in Kaduna during a dialogue on digital literacy, organised by Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM) in collaboration with Emerald-Isle Foundation (EIF) and IHIFIX Foundation.
The Founder, Executive Director, EIF, Ms Evelyn Ode, explained that the goal was to develop strategies on how to leverage on technology to improve teaching and learning outcomes in Kaduna State.
Ode said the dialogue was aimed at looking for ways to enhance digital skills among teachers and how digital skills could enhance learning among public and private school learners.
“We are hoping that the dialogue will provide an opportunity to enhance partnership and collaboration towards achieving expected outcomes of the state Development Plan on education,” she said.
On his part, the Chairman, Evidence Technical Working Group, KADBEAM, Mr Martins Dangwa, explained that in spite of the state government’s commitment to improve digital literacy, not much had been achieved in the education sector.
Dangwa said the government in its education policy committed to training teachers on new techniques and best practices using modern equipment like digital learning materials.
He added that the vision of the Kaduna State Development Plan was also to build a pathway for the transformation of the state into a digital economy for growth and development.
He, however, said the budgetary provisions for digital literacy for teachers was very insignificant to drive the needed change on leveraging technology.
“In the state budget for basic education, only N460 million was allocated for teacher training on Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
“Also, most schools do not have the needed infrastructure and facilities like electricity, computers, digital library, and other digital devices for digital learning.
“This is an indication of low prioritisation of digital skill development for teachers”, he said.
The Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Mr Munkaila Usman, said the government, with support from development partners, was doing all it could to improve the education environment.
Usman stressed the need for e-learning policy in the state to guide the implementation of digital literacy programmes and projects by government and development partners in the state.
Also, Mr Salim Sadiq, Senior Technical Adviser, Teaching and Learning, Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme, noted the significance of technology in improving teaching and learning outcomes in schools.
Sadiq stressed the need to equip teachers and School Support Officers with smart phones and other digital devises to improve teaching delivery, supervision and reporting.
Mr Abel Adejor, State Lead Facilitator, Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), a governance programme, called for advocacy to politicians to support the provision of ICT facilities for learning.
Adejor also stressed the need for improving budgetary allocation to entrenched technology in education system delivery.
Also, the Executive Director, Natsa Foni Foundation, Mr Leslie Dongh, stressed the need for resource mapping for digital learning for teachers and learners to support government efforts.
Responding, Mr Isitifanus Akau, State Partnership Facilitator, PERL, said that corporate organisations should be approached to support ICT infrastructure and human resources as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Nation
NSCDC Commissions New Commands In Kebbi, Sokoto
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has set up new command posts in Kebbi and Sokoto States to boost staff performance, security and better protect critical national infrastructure in the states.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who commissioned the two commands, said Federal Government would not relent in ensuring the protection of citizens at all times by providing the necessary supports, and logistics needed to maintain the current tempo of development to ensure effective discharge of the Corps core mandates
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, Aregbesola stated that the Federal Government was dedicated to continuously support the Corps to enhance performance and boost national security.
According to a statement signed by the agency’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Olusola Odumosu, the minister also tasked personnel in the two states to live up to the mandate of the agency and exhibit the highest level of discipline in their conduct.
He further charged the personnel to “abstain from rancor and unnecessary rivalry and ensure effective synergy with military and all other law enforcement agencies”.
Aregbesola commended the leadership of the Corps for the tremendous transformation witnessed within the last two years as he further attributed it to the doggedness, determination, pragmatic approach and readiness of personnel to impact positively on the nation’s security.
Present at the event were governors of the two states; Atiku Bagudu of and Aminu Tambuwal who were both represented.
Nation
NAWOJ Partners FH1360 To Boost Maternal, Infant Nutrition
The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, in collaboration with FH1360/Alive and Thrive Project hosted an interactive media round table aimed at promoting maternal, infant and young child nutrition, with an intervention of reducing the total number of anemia and all deficiencies related to mother and child.
Chairperson, NAWOJ, Lagos State, Adeola Ekine, said the initiative was focused on improved reporting of maternal nutrition coverage in journalism.
She added that the annual event provides insight on illnesses affecting children and mothers and their possible solutions
The Lagos State team Lead, Alive and Thrive, Olawunmi Ajayi, who spoke extensively on Maternal, Infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN), noted that Nigeria loses about 2313 children daily translating to 844,321, children death annually, half of which are due to malnutrition.
“You don’t have to spend a lot on trying to impress people about your feeding habit you just have to make sure you are providing and feeding a well-balanced diet.
Nation
Association Seeks Humanitarian Affairs Minister Portfolio
The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) has advised President Bola Tinubu to appoint a qualified social worker as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
This is contained in a congratulatory message signed by its Publicity Secretary, Musliudeen Adebayo, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan yesterday.
The Tide source reports that NASoW, the umbrella body of social workers in the country was founded in 1975.
The President of NASow, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, congratulated Tinubu on his swearing-in ceremony as the 16th President of Nigeria.
Mustapha said that the appointment of a social worker who had the requisite knowledge and skills to paddle the affairs of the ministry would promote the humanitarian agenda.
He said that appointing a NASoW member as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was in the interest of the nation.
Mustapha said that the ministry had core mandate to promote social work and quality social services delivery in the country.
He said that the association was ready and fully prepared to work with the new administration to achieve its aim in all areas of human development.
He said that the call for the appointment was as a result of the ministry’s strategic importance to the welfare of citizens, which is the main goal of this administration.
The NASoW president said that one of the association’s achievements during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari was the signing of the Nigerian Council for Social Work (NCSW) Establishment Act 2022.
Mustapha encouraged Tinubu to set another record by appointing a qualified social worker as minister for humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development.
He said that the association was anxiously waiting for the time when NCSW would be constituted.
“We are using this medium to congratulate our new President Bola Tinubu on his emergence as the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We appeal to him to appoint a social worker as the minster for humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development. This is our ministry; it is the main ministry for social workers
“We advise the president to put a round peg in a round hole for the betterment of the country,” he said.
Mustapha enjoined the president to appoint a minister, who had the required knowledge of social work as they expected the minister to constitute the NCWS board as soon as possible.
“The Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Act 2022 has been gazetted. Our law has become an Act of Parliament.
“This implies that a lot of good things are coming for the good people of Nigeria. The council is yet to be constituted.
“When this is done, it will help to give more recognition to social work practice in Nigeria,” he said.
He said that the establishment of NCSW would create job opportunities and enabling environment for social workers to provide the much desired quality social services to the people.
Mustapha said that it would also reduce migration of social workers to other countries in quest for prosperity.
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