Multichoice, Aiding Learning Through Audio-Visuals

The power of sight and sound in education cannot be over emphasized as the pictorial representation of the subject matter lingers on the mind of students than its expression in verbal form.
To bridge the digital divide between Nigeria and other advanced countries of the world, Multichoice, leading direct-to-home digital pay television operator set up resource centres to enhance teaching and learning processes in Nigerian schools.
The resource centres known as Multichoice Resource Centres is a partnership between Multichoice Nigeria and SchoolNet Nigeria, a non-governmental organization committed to the effective use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to nurture young talents, harness skills and expand opportunities by providing access to technology and premium educational content to transform learning in the classroom.
John Ugbe, managing director, Multichoice Nigeria speaking on the Multichoice Resource Centre project said beneficiary schools of the resource centre project have access to the special Multichoice education bouquet.
“We have instructional channels such as Discovery, National geographic, BBC World, History Channels, Animal Planet and Mindset Learn at no cost to the schools.”
Ugbe said the Resource Centre Project is part of a broad based community development strategy designed to raise the standard of education in public schools on the African continent by leveraging on assets and expertise of Multichoice digital satellite television for development and growth of African communities.
Using its technology platform, Segun Fayose, head, Corporate Communications Multichoice said Multichoice provides innovative educational resources to teachers and students in 201 schools in 21 states across the country, adding that the company would include 40 more schools before the year runs out.
The schools are provided with a DStv decoder, a television, a DVD player, burglary proof for the equipment, a small generator, a whiteboard, 50 blank video cassettes, a stabilizer and DStv education bouquet amongst others.
“Since inception of the project in Nigeria, Multichoice Nigeria has spent over N100 million in the training of teachers across the country,” he said.
The long term vision of the project is to raise the standard of education in Nigeria by deploying communication technology tools in secondary schools across the federation and assisting in bridging the digital divide between Nigeria and other advanced nations using education in secondary schools as the point of contact.
During a media tour to African Church Grammar School, Owu, Abeokuta, one of the beneficiary schools, Olanrewaju Nicholas, vice principal, Special Duties commended Multichoice on the initiative, saying it has impacted positively on learning in the school.
He said the establishment of Multichoice Resource Centre in the school is an added advantage and a boost to its image as the school is known for high academic standards.
The vice principal explained that the school has taken upon itself the responsibility of  providing needed logistics necessary to the keep the centre running, seeing its impact on students academic performance.
Olabode Saheed, the school’s Chemistry teacher explained that the resource centre has really worked in the sense that chemistry as a subject is abstract but watching it on screen makes it more interesting and understandable.
He said the school produced the best students in all science subjects in the last WAEC examinations.
“Before all we depended on were textbooks and notebooks but with the Resource centre even when reagents for practicals are missing, when we watch it on TV, we understand better,” said Omoniyi Ayodeji, a SS 3 student.
Though the project is not without its challenges, Orisalola Tajudeen, the school’s mathematics teacher identified computer illiteracy among the teachers as one of the set backs, as those already trained by Multichoice were transferred from the school during the tussle between missionaries and government on ownership of the school.
Adeniyi Olufemi, principalof yewa College, Ilaro observed that the resource centre contributed to improvement in the study of sciences compared to when the school was without a resource centre.
He said: “Students are opportuned to view programmes, give their assessment and teachers are also able to interact with them on the performance viewed, especially in Mathematics and Physics.