Intel, FCTA launch skoolnigeria.com

INTEL Nigeria has completed its first phase of the World Ahead Programme with the launch of its skooolnigeria.com in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), Nigeria Ministry of Education, Shell Nigeria and the Education Trust Fund.

As part of Shell’s drive to enable communities in Nigeria, Shell Nigeria will provide significant support to the programme and will continue to work with partners to drive education and ICT enablement.

Intel Business Development Manager for Nigeria, Mr. David Ibhawoh, noted that his firm in collaboration with FCTA, launched the teacher PC ownership scheme in Nigeria earlier this year, thus enabling over 6,000 teachers to own PCs in the first phase of the national Teacher Assisted PC Purchase Programme (TAPP).

"Our goal is to set the standards for ideal educational delivery where ICT becomes an integral tool for everyday learning," he said, stressing that governments worldwide are rapidly adopting strategies to use the power of information and communication technologies to transform education.

"This is increasing access to good education, raising standards and student attainment and preparing students for the 21st century knowledge economy. We take a holistic approach to ensuring that education, content, accessibility and connectivity work synergistically to up-level ICT development of communities – such is the mandate of the Intel World Ahead Programme," Ibhawoh declared.

He explained that skoool.com, already launched in other African nations including Ghana and South Africa provides localized digital education content for both students and educators alike.

"Maths and science modules tailored to suit the Nigerian national curriculum are now available on the interactive teaching platform, thereby increasing accessibility to this content," he said.

Additionally, he said, Intel would soon roll out its Classmate PCs, even as the Intel Teach Programme and skoool content to 15 more schools in Nigeria this year. Intel also aims to reach another 16,000 teachers in Abuja in the next few months, as part of the Intel Teach Programme.

The Secretary for Education at FCTA, Alhaji Halilu Pai, said they are proud to bring the latest education technology to Nigeria in collaboration with Intel and are pleased to note the interest this has generated amongst local students and teachers.

"Technology enables students to interact, communicate and collaborate with each other, and we strongly believe that these factors will enable them to excel on a global level. Intel’s support to local capability and capacity development is unparalleled and we look forward to working together to create more opportunities for the youth of Africa," he said.

Also commenting, former principal, Government Secondary School Jabi Abuja, Mrs. Esther Odekina, pointed out that this project has broadened Intel Teach Programme which has trained over 24,000 teachers in Nigeria, just as 300 public Nigerian schools this year would be equipped using Intel-powered Classmate PCs, thus taking students’ learning experience to new heights.

"Enrolment at the Jabi School in Abuja has increased by 25 per cent as a result of the additional facilities and computer accessibility. This goes to show the importance of the role technology plays in education and we are pleased that Intel is raising the bar in order to provide African students with the necessary tools to face 21st century challenges," she said.


ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D