Technology Innovation: Education Minister Unveils Free E-learning Website for Schools
By James Jibril
To aid learning across all levels of education in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education has inaugurated a free e-learning website called ”inspire.education.gov.ng”.
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who was ably represented by Mr Sunny Echono, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry inaugurated the free e-learning website on Tuesday in Abuja and said the website would accommodate two million Nigerians at a time.
The Honourable Minister noted that the decision was inspired by the advent of COVID-19 which disrupted learning for two years.
Adamu said the website, which was initiated by the ministry to allow both learners and teachers have full access, has two features -inspire for students and ignite for teachers.
He added that the ministry was collaborating with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to allow only registered teachers have access to the website.
According to him, as at today, the ministry has provided over 4,000 video lessons for basic levels, 7,000 video lessons for secondary levels and 4,000 audio lessons for secondary levels.
“We have been developing content in such we can broadcast in every media. We have the content in radio which covers the entire country and also television.
“We have exceeded 30 per cent in terms of broadband. We are working with Galaxy Backbone to lay fibers across the country and laying it across schools in the country.
“The content is for all levels but the focus presently is at the level of primary and secondary. This is because there is hardly any of our Polytechnic or University that does not have their own.
“We don’t have the intention to close down website for polytechnics and universities but want to create a link for them to access the platform,” he said.
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The minister said that the content of the e-learning would cover all levels of education saying that currently the ministry focused on primary and secondary education and would be made accessible to rural and communities without internet facilities.
He added that the current e-learning website being used by polytechnics and universities would not be stopped but rather linked to the new website. Adding that the ministry was working with the Galaxy Backbone to reserve a proportion of their cyber base dedicated for the e-content.
Adamu said that a committee had been set up to link up with regulatory agencies to harness local languages so as to accommodate teachings in various local languages. He commended the partners and local content providers for their role in bringing the project to limelight.
While noting that the ministry was working to make it seamless and economical for users, the Minister urged users to take advantage of the website.
on his part, the Director, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the ministry, Mr. Abubakar Isah said the website would offer both teachers and learners a more beneficiary teaching and learning resources to teach and understand lessons respectively.
The e-learning website, inspire.education.gov.ng has also enabled states to adopt strategy for teaching.
