The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), has expressed concern that less than 1 percent of pupils, teachers and young people in Kano State have been utilizing the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP).
The NLP is a new online solution designed to close learning poverty gap using quality digital education, tools and content.
Th UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Kano, Mr Rahma Farah, stated this while handing over materials to support the learning passport initiative to some schools in the state.
He said that only 1,280 out of the 75,000 targeted to utilise the platform had accessed it in the last six in the state.
Represented by a Senior Education Specialist, UNICEF Kano field office, Farah urged stakeholders to mount enlightenment to attract more users.
According to him, the expected target of NLP users in Kano state is 75,000 by December 2023, which is envisaged to rise
to 150,000 users by the end of 2024.
The UNICEF official said that the NLP has been rolled out officially in 13 states, but active in 18 states with 142,000 users as of March, of which over 69,000 are students.
Farah explained that UNICEF was working with federal and states government to reach 1.5 million children and young people to access quality digital education, tools and content.
“UNICEF is glad to be part of a solution to learning challenges that face many children today.
“NLP supplements what you learn in class, can be used to do research and do homework,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of Kano State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Danlami Hayyo, reaffirmed the dedication of the board in supporting policies aimed at moving education forward.
He appreciated UNICEF, Microsoft, AIRTEL and others for donating 1, 430 tablets,100 projectors, 100 routers and 100 telephone lines to some selected schools in the state.
Also speaking, the NLP Team Lead, Naziru Surajo, said that the scheme had promoted the training of teachers and encouraged learning among students.
Speaking on behalf of benefitting schools, the Head Teacher, Kurna Special Primary School, Malam Salisu Abidu, described the donation as a major catalyst to uplifting the standard of education in the state.
