By Ijeoma UKAZU
In today’s world, the learning dynamics have changed. This is due to the emergence of different digital applications aimed at improving learning, especially among children.
While traditional physical learning is important, these online applications are targeted to complement classroom learning. Experts say, if harnessed, can improve digital literacy and reduce learning deficiency among Nigerian children.
A recently released Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS 6, carried out by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and other partners shows that among Nigerian children and adolescents aged 7-14 years only 27 per cent have foundational reading skills and 25 per cent have foundational numeracy skills.
The worrying statistics further explained by experts indicate that children are indeed going to school but are not learning. This, they say calls for immediate action by all education stakeholders to improve children’s learning skills to avert looming danger.
One such platform to improve learning is the Nigeria Learning Passport, NLP -This is an online, mobile and offline platform that enables continuous access to quality education. Educationists say this platform is aimed at complementing classroom teaching.
Analysts add that children’s learning and educational milestones should be intentionally catered for using diverse methods including digital platforms to improve learning in order to achieve the required result.
While speaking during a 2-day media dialogue on; “Digital Learning Platform” held recently in Lagos organized by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, the Director, Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Education, Dr Adejare Afolabi says this platform will not only reduce the number of out-of-school children, especially in rural communities, it would also improve children’s learning deficiency in Nigeria.
Afolabi said that in order to harness the Nigeria Learning Passport method of learning, UNICEF has so far trained over 3,000 facilitators and provided tablets for such purpose.
He explained that the initiative is imperative as it would help the children improve their learning with the audio-visual system provided and will reduce abstract learning.
Afolabi adds “We are leveraging on the existing NLP, an online/offline platform designed to complement the existing system of imparting knowledge and learning, it’s an initiative of federal, and state governments in partnership with UNICEF.
“We have a number of out-of-school children, and some who are slow in assimilating so this platform will help them listen, watch, learn and understand better what they are being taught in the classroom.
“It’s a complementary platform used to boost the normal traditional learning system which we are using to reduce and address such issues, especially in places like Makoko and other suburbs.”
The Director noted that the idea is to bridge the gap between the fast and the slow learners, adding that every child can learn at his or her own pace, and also revise topics that they can understand and assimilate.
Afolabi further said that “Even teachers are incorporated in the system, as they have the opportunity platform to teach students by projecting the contents because children of these days learn faster with audiovisual materials.”
Another digital learning that is been harnessed by young people in Nigeria is the ‘Youth Agency Market Place, YOMA. According to the Programme Specialist for UNICEF, Joannes Yimbesalu said YOMA as a digital platform was created by young people which allows them to build and transform their futures.
Yimbesalu revealed that 87 per cent of Yoma users globally are Nigerian youth adding that, the digital platform gives them the opportunity to participate in learning, skilling, and social impact task and as they engage with these opportunities, they earn tokens which they can use to redeem on the Yoma marketplace for data and airtime and access to premium courses.
He stated that UNICEF is partnering with the government and private sector to give young people the capacity to build and transform their futures and be productive citizens
“We are passionate about young people and giving them the platform across Africa to be employable and the key thing is promoting opportunities for these people.
“We need to create this awareness more to promote the opportunity including in the rural communities, to enable them to be aware and access the opportunities for employment.
“One of the key things is about targeting the most marginalized, and the focus is working with key stakeholders and the media to ensure that no child is left behind,” he added.
Speaking, on the overview of “Youth Employment, Skilling, and Upskilling in Nigeria”, the Head of Communications, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, Taiye Tunkarimu, said that the agency also engaged in digital grassroots programmes to create wealth, especially for the youth.
According to her, “We have done a digital grassroots programme with UNICEF, and we were able to train market people on how they can use the digital platform to promote their business, make gain and expand their customer base.
“We enable job and wealth creation in Lagos State through access to finance, access to infrastructure, vocational skills training, access to market as well as business support.
“UNICEF is our partner and we have done a couple of training and engagements with them, including the digital literacy programme to train people at the grassroots.
“The training was on WhatsApp business after which they were empowered with phones to promote their business and enhance their customer relations, all of this we did with UNICEF support.”
The Lagos state director, for National Orientation Agency, Adetola Adeboyega, said that these digital platforms provide an avenue for the state youths to be technically inclined.
She said “These days, certificates cannot take young graduates far if they do not have employable in-demand skills. I would advise our youths to be technically and digitally inclined. Before now, one can easily get a job once one graduated from a higher institution. But now, things are different because everything has gone digital and technical, so there is a need for young people to improve themselves and be skilled to excel in the workplace. Also, young people need to know how to use their hands, in order to be able to be financially stable.”
While stating the objective of the event, UNICEF Communication Officer, Blessing Ejiofor, stated that the programme is organized to spur the media to support advocacy on digital learning solutions for children and young people with a focus on bridging the digital divide, especially for girls and those in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.