The need to integrate indigenous languages with digital
education resources in promoting literacy skills in line with 21st century
expectations has prompted stakeholders in the education sector to initiate and
seek public-private partnerships to boost the availability of these resources
to students in Nigeria.
This was the focus of discussion from the just concluded
August edition of Ed-tech Monday – an initiative of Mastercard Foundation in
partnership with CcHub Limited. This virtual discussion-themed “Access to
Digital resources” featured discussants from different segments of the
education industry.
Speaking during the virtual discussion held on Tuesday, Mr.
Gideon Olanrewaju noted that a lack of digital skills and in-access to digital
resources are the major challenges affecting digital learning in Nigeria and
while developed countries have gone ahead to adopt strategies such as the flip
classroom method, this in-access to digital resources has limited the adoption
of forward-looking strategies that enhance the learning experience.
“The foundation of learning which begins with comprehension
skills has been affected due to failure of educators at both private and public
sectors to adopt languages best understood by the students. As you are aware,
if the children are unable to have such foundational skills, it would be very
difficult for them to access or use the knowledge that is obtainable from
digital resources”, Olanrewaju said.
He enjoined government and educators to employ the use of
indigenous languages in teaching students. He further enjoined govt and
stakeholders to invest in community-level infrastructural development to find
lasting solutions to the problem of access to digital resources.
Airing his views, the Digital Content and Innovation
Manager, Airtel Networks Limited, Bankole Alao noted that connectivity remains
a huge barrier to the adoption of digital learning in Nigeria more so in this
challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him the solution to
this challenge lies in the readiness of stakeholders to collaborate in creating
the right content and bringing technological solutions while also making
digital devices affordable and available.
“In tackling the problem of connectivity, we must adopt a
strategy based on collaboration where all stakeholders agree on what the right
content should be while considering the connectivity and affordability of the
devices. This means that, if we are looking at solving the problem, we can
begin to look at the primary school level. Once we are done, we are then rest
assured that those who are going to secondary school have the right
foundation”, he stated.
Also speaking, Kayode Akinwale, a member of Virtual Learning
Teachers noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has further proven how effective and
valuable technology can be in aiding digital learning not only among the pupils
but also the parents.
Akinwale identified connectivity cost, poor power supply,
limited understanding of digital resources by students, teachers and cost of
digital devices as major barriers which need to be overcome in Nigeria to
guarantee equitable access to digital resources for the students. One key issue
which needs to be tackled is the problem of affordability both for connectivity
and devices, Networks providers can also provide free access to learning
platforms just as it is done by Facebook”, he added.
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