EU-UNESCO, Ministry x-ray Katsina teachers’ ICT skills for better teaching

UNESCO, in collaboration with the Katsina State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the European Union (EU-UNESCO), is assessing teachers’ ICT capacity in Katsina State.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN (NAN) reports that the assessment exercise which took place on Friday in some selected schools, is part of the EU-UNESCO project: “Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria, Phase II”.

The 4-year project, which commenced from 2024-2028 and funded by the EU is titled: “Expand, Integrate, and Strengthen Systems (EISS) to Build Teachers’ Capacity and Resilience”.

During the exercise, the UNESCO Consultant, Dr Yinka Oyerinde, said the project aimed to train approximately 18,000 teachers in ICT skills, across six states, including Katsina.

He said the project would strengthen the state’s educational system by improving quality teaching and learning through enhanced teacher education programmes and improved teacher resilience.

According to Oyerinde, the assessment exercise involves both virtual and physical evaluations to gauge teachers’ ICT proficiency.

He said the physical assessment has been conducted across the three senatorial zones in the state, with a sample of teachers from various educational institutions in the state.

Oyerinde said that the physical assessment involved teachers from the state’s Primary Education Board, Ministry of Education, Community/Private Schools, and also Science and Technical Education Board.

The project’s representative also commended Gov. Dikko Radda’s commitment in the education sector, which, he said, was a key factor in the state being selected as one of the beneficiaries.

He also lauded the tireless effort of the state’s Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa in ensuring the successful implementation of the project.

Oyerinde further expressed satisfaction with the readiness and enthusiasm of the teachers for the upcoming ICT training.

NAN reports that with support from the federal and state ministries of education, UNESCO is implementing the project in Katsina, Adamawa, Plateau, Oyo, Enugu, and Bayelsa States.