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ICTS IN SCHOOLS WORKSHOP

by suhail sani

ICTS IN SCHOOLS WORKSHOP

Among the strategies contained in the Jigawa State ICTs in Education Policy is “training of teachers and school administrators on the use of ICTs”. To rollout the implementation of this strategy, the Jigawa State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology approached CITAD to design and organize a sensitization workshop for principals of secondary schools on ICTs. CITAD developed a package entitled ICTs in Schools whose objectivities include:

  1. Enhance the understanding of the participants on ICTs
  2. Explain the various uses of ICTs in schools and administration and management
  3. Enhance their skills on the use of ICTs
  4. Provide participants with various sources of support and assistance for ICTs in schools
  5. Sensitize them on the need to make effective use of ICTs in the schools
  6. Expose them to quick ways of learning the computer

The content of the workshop accordingly consisted of the following topics

  1. Understanding ICTs
  2. ICTs and Education System in Nigeria Today
  3. ICTs in school administration and management
  4. Sources of support and assistance for ICTs in Schools
  5. Self-learning the computer: strategies and tips
  6. Managing and maintenance of ICTs facilities in Schools
  7. Skills coaching on setting up of school databases, and scheduling of resources using ICTs

The opening of the workshop held on 23rd October, 2012 at the Conference Hall of the Jigawa State Library, Dutse. Dignitaries at the occasion included the State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, the Education Committee Chairman of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Hon, Nasiru Mohammed and many others. Welcoming the participants, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Alhaji Abdullahi Hudu said that the workshop was part of the activities lined up by the Ministry in its march towards the full implementation of the State ICTs in Education Policy. He said over 190 principals would be trained under the workshop. Shading more lights on the objectives of the workshop, the Director of CITAD, Y. Z. Ya’u said that Jigawa State which had scored a first in being the only state so far with an ICT s in Education policy was doing much to invest in ICTs in schools. For this investment to make return to the state in terms of better school outcomes, schools must make effective use of the ICT facilities. The workshop therefore was aimed at sensitize the principals to understand the importance of ICTs in the schools and how they could make effective use of what they have in the schools. Knowing that not all schools have ICT facilities, the Director disclosed that CITAD had included in the content of the workshop, sources of support and assistance for ICTs in schools initiatives as well as managing and maintenance of ICTs facilities.

Declaring the workshop opened, the Commissioner of Education, Prof Haruna Wakili said that it was the intention of the state to use ICTs to improve and expand Educational opportunities all levels in the state and to improve quality. He said already more than 70% of the secondary schools in the state have been provided with ICTs facilities and that plans were on ground to ensure all the rest were also equally provided. He also disclosed the building and equipping four ICT centres and the establishment of the Jigawa Space Centre located at the state library all aimed at utilizing ICTs to improve learning conditions in the schools. He urged the participants to pay attention during the workshop and to make effective use of what they would learn back in their schools

The workshop for the Dutse centre was attended by 66 principals. On 30-31, October, it was repeated for 37 principals from the Kazuare Zone. The workshop was conducted at GGSS, Kazuare while also on the same dates principals from the Ringim zone, numbering 48 attended their training at State Computer Centre, Ringmi. The last two of the series were conducted at Hadejia and Gumel on 6th and 7TH November 2012. The workshop for Hadejia Zone was held at Government Secondary School, Wunti and was attended by 61 principals. The Gumel zone had 18 participants and was conducted at GSS Latai, Gumel. Overall, 190 principals participated in the programme

The Director Science of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed Shingurun behalf of the Ministry appreciated the support and cooperation which CITAD has been giving in the area of education and ICT in particular to the Ministry. He also called on CITAD to continue with the support it was giving the ministry.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Lafia, Principal, Government College, the State Chairman of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) Kazaure Zone expressed their gratitude and appreciation to both the Ministry and CITAD for the workshop and the knowledge they had acquired from the workshop. He said the workshop facilitation was excellent and rich in materials, making it memorable and used the opportunity to this thanks the Ministry for giving them the chance to participate in this memorable workshop. Also speaking on behalf of the participants, the principal of GCSS Roni, Hajiya Jummai Ali who is the Zonal Chair of ANCOPSS thanked the ministry for choosing to build their capacity and to update them with the current happenings in area of ICT. Participants also suggested that Ministry should assist them to possess their personal computers as well as organize a hands-on training workshop to make them fully equipped and expressed optimism that these suggestions made would be taken up appropriately.