The government of Enugu State in South-East Nigeria, led by Gov. Peter Mbah, is revolutionizing the education sector thanks to its innovative Smart School initiative.
This groundbreaking project is establishing 260 smart schools across the state’s 260 wards, providing top-notch educational facilities to bridge the gap in educational standards.
Here are some key features of the initiative:
Upgrading Existing Public Schools: The government is committed to improving existing public schools by upgrading infrastructure, integrating ICT into the curriculum, and ensuring up-to-date teaching methods.
Converting Public Schools to Smart Schools: A dual approach will be adopted, establishing new smart schools while upgrading existing ones to provide immediate relief and systematic improvement to the educational sector.
Empowering Teachers: The government is working on programs to improve teachers’ capacities and reviewing policies to ensure competitive wages, recognizing the crucial role of motivated and well-compensated teachers in achieving desired educational outcomes.
Inclusive Education: The initiative prioritizes social justice and equality, ensuring equal access to quality education for all children, regardless of socio-economic background.
Stakeholder Support
The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and several civil society organizations (CSOs) have lauded Governor efforts and called for routine inspections to ensure quality.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, said the state was prioritizing quality teachers, citing the rigorous training and selection process for smart school teachers.
Infrastructure and Facilities
Each smart school will feature 22 digitally equipped classrooms, toilet facilities, solar power, and other essential amenities.
The Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) chairman, Dr. Gabriel Ajah, expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress and urged communities to take ownership and protect the facilities.
Governor Peter Mbah’s Smart School initiative is a beacon of hope for Enugu State’s education sector, promising a brighter future for its children. With stakeholder support and the government’s commitment to inclusive, quality education, this project is set to transform the educational landscape of Enugu State.
The Enugu State government also reiterated its commitment to continually invest in and reposition the education sector. It explained that work was already underway to ensure that the graduates of Smart Green Schools currently being constructed in the state’s 260 wards would transition to the 17 Smart Secondary Schools or the 8 Science, Technical, and Vocational Schools being built in the state’s 17 LGA’s and eight Federal Constituencies, respectively.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, made this known during the 64th Independence Day celebrations in Enugu.
Prof. Mbah, said his driving force is his belief that education is the foundation of any true independence and freedom. He said the children and youths of Enugu State had much to celebrate because of the “experiential learning” – a practical hands-on learning model to be adopted for the schools.
At least one such school at Owo in Nkanu East LGA is already operational, and others having close commencement dates.
Watch the video above for a firsthand experience of one of the schools at Owo.
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