Wike Harps On the Use of ICT to Develop Education

Chief Nyesom Wike, minister of Education, has urged stakeholders in education to create and exploit local and global opportunities in the deployment of ICT for sustainable development of the sector.

Wike gave the charge in Abuja at a two-day National Conference on ICT in Education with the theme:  “Technology-Driven Education: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities”.

“The present state of ICT in education in the country must be improved, if we must attain sustainable development and global competitiveness. Our policies should address the realities of our country even as they align with global trends. We should ensure that education goals and priorities drive our choice of technology. We should use ICT, not only for the acquisition of basic skills, but to foster the development of critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills,” the minister said.

The minister was represented by Mr Obi Ikibi, director, Human Resource Management in the Ministry.

He urged the conference to ensure the development and sustenance of ICT manpower needed to achieve the human capital requirement for the country.

Wike recommended the use of appropriate technology with local content to be designed for use by the people in local languages and under local conditions.

“Furthermore, we should open up access to research and development; provide appropriate legal, regulatory and security frameworks to ensure that standards set for ICT in education are enforced,’’ he said.

The minister also challenged stakeholders to create financing models for ICT in education and to exploit public-private partnerships to increase funding for ICT in education.

He pointed out that traditional budgeting by government alone had become inadequate for dealing with problems in the education sector.

Wike described the conference as very strategic considering that it was aimed to evolve strategies for effective implementation of ICT in education.

He said it would also facilitate exchange of experiences in the use of ICT in education among stakeholders and provide concepts and tools for formulating viable ICT in education policies.

“We believe that successful contributions to meeting the Millennium Development Goals and Education For All goals are most likely to be made through the development and deployment of ICT in education,” he added.

Dr McJohn Nwaobiala, permanent Secretary in the Ministry, said concerted efforts were being made by the ministry to identify challenges that were thwarting the development and deployment of ICT for human capital development.

Nwaobiala, who was represented by Mrs. Hindatu Abdullahi, director Tertiary Education, said the ministry placed high premium on the attainment of high academic standards for all Nigerians.

In a goodwill message, the Director of Education, British Council, Mr. Brown Wilson, said the council was passionate about Nigerians achieving the best possibilities in education.

Brown said the conference would be focusing on learning and sharing using ICT in the deployment of educational tools.