The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intensified efforts to enhance digital education in government schools across Bauchi State, aiming to improve learning outcomes through the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) initiative. The program, launched in 2022, leverages digital technology to bridge educational gaps and expand access to quality learning resources for students across the state.

Speaking at a one-day media dialogue in Toro Local Government Area to commemorate the 2024 International Day of Education, Abdulrahman Ado, UNICEF’s Education Specialist at the Bauchi Field Office, called on the state government, philanthropists, and well-meaning individuals to support child education by maximizing the opportunities offered by digital learning. He emphasized the need for proper monitoring of the program to ensure that tablets and other digital learning gadgets provided to schools are used effectively.

Ado stressed that the Nigerian Learning Passport (NLP) does not belong to UNICEF but is the property of the Bauchi State Government, urging authorities to take full ownership and expand the initiative. He also highlighted the shortage of digital devices for the large number of students in the state and appealed to the government to procure additional tablets, projectors, and other learning tools. Additionally, he advised that the recruitment of new teachers should be conducted using the Teacher Management Information System (TMIS) for better accountability and efficiency.

In response, A’ishatu Aminu, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, revealed that almost all schools across the state’s 20 local government areas have been enrolled in the NLP initiative, except for newly admitted students. With 1,110 tablets already distributed across 55 primary and junior secondary schools, 15 Islamic schools (IQS), and 40 conventional schools, the NLP platform remains a valuable tool for early childhood, primary, secondary, and vocational education, offering offline access to national and global learning content to improve education standards in Bauchi State.