KOICA Hosts Smart Schools Conference

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has hosted a smart schools’ conference in Abuja, bringing together principals and education stakeholders in Korea and Nigeria on smart education to showcase best practices in digital technology integration in schools.

The conference provided an opportunity for KOICA supported Smart schools from Kano, Cross River, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Ekiti and FCT to showcase their schools practices, review their school management and curriculum operations.

The agency informed that during the conference school principals, head teachers, teachers, and students showcased their teaching practices, digital content creation, school operations and story telling skills using digital technology.

“KOICA has been the leading development agency in promoting Smart Education in Nigeria in collaboration with Universal Basic education commission and State Basic Education Board”.

Recall In 2021, KOICA stated a Smart education project in collaboration with Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), installing modern education Content Development Studios in 6 smart schools across 6 states, training over 250 teachers, principals and education stakeholders in Korea and Nigeria on Smart education, developing Smart education guidelines for school operation and handing over 1,662 educational contents on Mathematics and Science subjects to Smart schools in Nigeria through UBEC.

According to the Agency, the Best Practice Conference was a satisfying moment for education stakeholders, as they witness the outcomes of the Smart Education projects in Nigeria through the excellent and diverse display of talents by the students, pupils and the improved capacity of the teachers and school administrators.

Speaking during the conference, KOICA country Director Mr. Son Sungil express satisfaction with the outcomes of the Smart school project in improving the learning outcomes in Basic education in Nigeria.

“Awards were given out in four categories: Best Smart School, Best Teachers, Best Students and Best Contents”.

“In this year conference, Nasarawa Smart School lead by the Principal, Mr. Ja’afar Musa Adi and the Head teacher Mrs. Fatima Sani, won the overall Best Smart school in Nigeria, and received a school support grant of 3million naira and a laptop while Kano and Bauchi Smart schools won the second and third positions with 2million and 1.5million naira school support grant and laptops respectively. Other Smart schools also received 1million naira school support grants”.

“The overall best Teacher for Primary school was won by Mr. Ruslana Aminu from Kano State Smart school, while Mr. Liyel Eyo from Cross River State Smart school won the Best Teacher for the Junior secondary school. Master Saminu Shafi’u and Ahmad Shafi’u both from Kano State Smart school won the Best Students for Primary and Junior Secondary School respectfully”.

“Cross River State Smart school won the Best Content Award for both Mathematics and Science Subjects”.

“Each individual award winner went home with laptops, tabulate, and other incentives”.

The representative of UBEC, Mal. Muhammed, Director Technical Services, Digital Resource Center stated that the Best Practice Conference provided a great platform for UBEC and KOICA to evaluate the outcome and impact of the Smart school projects in the states.

Also, in the attendance where the executive chairman of state Basic Education Board from Nasarawa, FCT, Bauchi, Cross River, Ekiti and Kano State.