Taraba Trains 500 Teachers In AI-driven Education Reform

Taraba State government has launched a new AI-powered digital education initiative to train 500 teachers, aimed at tackling learning poverty and improving foundational learning outcomes among primary school pupils.

The programme, implemented in partnership with EIDU, is expected to benefit over 10,000 pupils in Jalingo and Ardo-Kola local government areas by deploying innovative digital learning tools in classrooms.

The first phase of the initiative, which was held between April 20 and 23 in Jalingo, focused on equipping selected teachers with digital teaching skills to serve as master trainers for other educators across the state.

Flagging off the programme, the commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Augustina Godwin, described the initiative as a major step towards modernising classroom instruction and improving learning outcomes in public schools.

She said the programme was designed to address learning poverty, particularly among children unable to read simple English passages or solve basic mathematics problems by the age of 10.

According to her, the selected teachers will transfer the knowledge gained to other educators, thereby expanding the impact of the reform initiative across the state.

“This programme will equip our teachers with the digital skills and tools required to transform classroom instruction and deliver better results for our children,” she said.

The Permanent Member II of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Zachariah John, said the initiative would reposition basic education in Taraba to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital world.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Idris Goje, said the programme aligns with Governor Agbu Kefas’ education reform agenda, which aims to improve access to quality education.

He urged teachers participating in the programme to maximise the opportunity and to ensure effective implementation in their schools.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Samaila Dauda Agbu, stressed the importance of strengthening teacher capacity as a key strategy for improving pupils’ academic performance.

EIDU, known for deploying digital learning solutions in underserved communities, is providing the AI-powered platform for the initiative.

The state government said the programme would be expanded to other parts of the state in subsequent phases, as part of efforts to improve literacy and numeracy among school-age children.