The Lagos State Government has charged private school operators to adopt the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) as part of efforts to improve teaching.
The government said that the adoption would also boost learning outcomes and expand access to digital education.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, gave the charge on Wednesday at an NLP sensitisation and monitoring programme.
The programme was organised by the state government in collaboration with the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) at Ojodu.
The Nigeria Learning Passport is an online e-learning platform with mobile and offline capability that enables continuous access to quality education.
Alli-Balogun said that about 25 states were already using the platform, saying that Lagos was rated the highest user.
He said that students, teachers and school administrators in Lagos State public schools were using the platform.
He said that private schools educated more than 60 per cent of learners in Lagos and their active involvement and practices in teaching and learning remained critical to achieving inclusive educational transformation.
‘’This is an initiative by UNICEF, and it is obvious that the world of learning has changed.
‘’Recent disruptions have shown that education must continue anywhere and anytime through accessible, flexible and technology-driven learning solutions.
“Private school partners are indispensable to our education agenda because they serve a significant proportion of learners and contribute greatly to educational development.
“We must, therefore, move beyond awareness to practical implementation, ensuring that digital learning becomes an integral part of classroom teaching and school management,’’ he said.
He said that NLP provided free access to over 20,000 curriculum-aligned resources, including videos, audio materials, simulations, games and emerging technology content.
“The platform offers quality educational resources for learners and teachers, ensuring continuous learning while supporting improved classroom delivery and academic performance, ‘’ Alli-Balogun said.
The commissioner highlighted Lagos’s achievements in implementing the initiative, noting that the state had recorded more than 200,000 users and earned recognition as Nigeria’s best-performing state.
He said that the recognition reflected the state’s recommitment to expanding digital learning opportunities and ensuring quality education.
He emphasised the need for school proprietors to train teachers regularly, monitor learner engagement through available data and designated NLP champions, who would integrate digital learning into daily instruction.
“We are committed to working with schools to overcome challenges and ensure that every child, regardless of school type, accesses quality education,” he added.
UNICEF’s representative at the event, Mr Yusuf Usman, highlighted challenges facing rural education, noting that children struggled to access quality learning due to poor infrastructure and seasonal challenges.
“We have seen communities, especially rural areas where children cannot access quality education due to poor infrastructure and seasonal challenges, making learning difficult during rainy periods,” said.
Usman noted that the platform integrated entrepreneurship, digital literacy and artificial intelligence, preparing learners early with 21st Century skills.
He described the initiative in Lagos State as successful, and encouraged wider adoption.
He said that the platform was accessible via nlp.edu.gov.ng where users could register with their email addresses.
The programme was attended by stakeholders in education sector, including teachers and private school owners.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Lagos State Parents Forum, Mr Ganiyu Olatunosun, called on parents to encourage their children to use the platform for the intended purpose.
“As parents, we must make out time, not only to encourage our children to embrace and use this platform, but also to monitor them because it has come to stay in this 21st Century and technology era,” he said.
