Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has said that his adminstration introduced modern digital learning platform in basic education system across the state to give further impetus and acceleration that would expose Abia pupils to multimedia learning experiences and demands of the 21st Century.
Governor Ikpeazu who stated this on Thursday during the ground breaking ceremony of ABIA SMART SCHOOL in Umuajuju community of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, said his administration places great premium in the education of its citizens.
Ikpeazu said that the decision to build the Smart School was informed by the need to make Abia children conversant with the latest digital technologies adding that the school is expected to be completed by October, 2022.
Describing education as a pillar and enabler to the development strategy of the state government for enhanced socioeconomic advancement, Ikpeazu noted that the world was moving dynamically hence the state government’s desire to build schools that offer teaching through multimedia facilities.
He said: “The demands of the 21st century raised the need for digital learning platforms that would accelerate and give impetus to the objectives for the smart school initiative.
“A smart school means that we are preparing foundation for our children to be competitive not only in Nigeria but all over the world. We are living in a global environment and we must prepare our children to thrive in this global environment.
“We have rebuilt over 650 classroom blocks across Abia, retrained over 3,500 teachers including conducting training for them to use digital facilities in teaching.
“This underscores our commitment to education in our state and is our modest contribution to education for the growth and future of the young ones”, Ikpeazu said.
In his address, the Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mr Hamid Bobboyi, commended the state government for its efforts in strengthening basic education in Abia.
Represented by the Southeast Region Secretary of UBEC, Mr Franklin Ovbiagele, Bobboyi described the Smart School initiative as a laudable project that would enhance delivery of basic education.
He said that the importance of technological advancement in education could no longer be ignored as it produces effective outcomes in line with global best practices adding that the Smart School would launch Abia school children onto the digital era and expressed hope that the project would be a huge success.
Earlier, the Chairman of Abia State Universal Basic Education Board(ASUBEB), Mr Josiah Anonaba, disclosed that “the School would be a paperless school where students can be taught from any part of the world”, adding that it would equally expose students to multimedia learning and instructional materials.
Anoaba, while pointing out the advantages of the smart school said the initiative would not only attract a smart village, building of a hostel accommodation by the state government as well as other infrastructures in the host community.
