The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), has canvassed for digital learning to reposition the secondary school education in order to achieve a transformed nation.
It also emphasized that quality education for secondary students would help in developing economies and opportunities for growth.
The President General, of USOSA, Mr Michael Magaji, disclosed this in Abuja, during the national education summit, with the theme: ‘Transforming secondary school education for the digital age’, acknowledging that the USOSA has distinguished themselves in creating digital platforms to improve the e-learning experience across Nigeria.
He noted that the education summit will be institutionalized as an annual event in collaboration with stakeholders to promote the learning experience for national unity.
Magaji said: “Over 50 years after the first unity schools were created, it is clear to all that basic secondary education has suffered a decline in several areas. The reasons are obvious and I will not dwell on this. We know the issues and we know the challenges.
“We are not gathered here to lament but part of the solution, USOSANS have moved from complaint mode to solution mode a long time ago and this is why we are gathered here today to discuss the issues and find solutions. To share ideas with players from all works of life and come up with practical, implementable and transformational road maps. Emphasis on implementable!
“Particularly interesting is our focus on digital learning at this summit and the benefits that we can gain in democratizing learning for All. Going to school is no longer a geographic description. Schooling today is more a medium than a geography, and digital technology makes it so.”
In her remarks, the Project Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Amina Haruka, said that the initiative is working with other stakeholders in ensuring that girls child received a quality education.
Expressing concern over the quality of education received by students, a four-time member of the National Assembly representing Langtang South Federal constituency of Plateau state, Hon. Benni Lar, called on the federal to increase budgetary allocation for secondary schools.
She said that the USOSA of Plateau State every year ensure that they have a legacy project like the already built computer labs to help the children.
Lar said: “The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) has a huge role to play as well as the government. Government must increase its budgetary allocation for basic education. That is important, and we at the national assembly will play our role in oversight budget very closely to ensure that basic education gets a minimum percentage, the minimum budget for education should not be less than 5%.”
