By Lucy Ogalue
The School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) of Government Secondary School (GSS) Unguwan Baro in Kaduna State has taken swift action to boost digital literacy in the state.
The SBMC Chairman, Mr Joseph Sambo, in a statement on Wednesday, said the committee was doing this through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project inaugurated by the state.
According to Sambo, this initiative has empowered thousands of students across the state by enhancing their digital literacy.
He said it, however, faced a significant challenge when a severe rainstorm damaged the roof of the newly renovated computer laboratory at GSS Unguwan Baro.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kaduna State Government, through the AGILE Project, has made substantial progress in enhancing digital literacy among secondary school students.
The programme, which began in 2023, aimed to equip students with essential digital skills by providing training to teachers, renovating computer laboratories, and supplying schools with devices, solar power solutions, and internet connectivity.
Currently, over 22,000 students across 104 senior secondary schools in Kaduna State are benefiting from this initiative.
According to Sambo, the project has provided 1,250 laptop computers, 100 schools with 5KVA solar power solutions, 50 projectors, and 50 projection screens.
He said the project also ensured the training of 246 teachers to deliver comprehensive digital literacy training.
” The curriculum aligns with the UNESCO Digital Literacy Global Framework.
“it covers a range of skills from basic to advanced levels, including information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, and safety.
“However, the progress made by this initiative was put at risk when a rainstorm caused significant damage to the roof of the renovated computer lab at GSS Unguwan Baro.
” This threatened to disrupt the digital literacy training that had just begun to make a difference in students’ lives,” he said.
According to the chairman, the SBMC, comprising community members, traditional leaders, parents, and teachers, quickly mobilised resources to repair the damaged roof.
He said their prompt action, driven by a strong belief in the value of the AGILE digital literacy programme, ensured that students could continue their training without delay.
Sambo then restated the community’s commitment to the programme, saying our school has benefitted tremendously from the AGILE Project.
“We have been trained and shown how we can mobilise resources from within ourselves to support the education of our children.
“And the programme have had significant impact on the students’ academic performance, particularly in the 2024 JAMB CBT exams, where students demonstrated a newfound confidence in using computers.
“The successful repair of the computer lab by the community underscores the importance of local ownership and involvement in sustaining educational initiatives.
“The SBMC’s efforts exemplify how active community participation can enhance the long-term success of projects like the Kaduna AGILE digital literacy programme,” he said.
Miss Faith Bitrus, a Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1) student at GSS Unguwan Baro, expressed her gratitude for the project.
She shared how digital literacy training had enabled her to assist her mother in managing business transactions using spreadsheets and accessing the internet for assignments.
Bitrus, who now dreams of becoming a software engineer, credited the programme for opening up new possibilities for her future.
The Kaduna AGILE Project is led by the Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Sen. Uba Sani.
The project is focused on improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls, addressing barriers that prevent girls from accessing education, and creating safe, supportive learning environments.
The project’s success has been bolstered by a strong partnership with the World Bank, which has been instrumental in its implementation.