Over 1,200 schools have been provided with tablets and internet connectivity through the Reimagine Education Programme, giving the teachers and students access to digital learning resources. Airtel reveals this in a statement on Wednesday.
The Reimagine Education Programme is a partnership by Airtel and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that was introduced in 2022 to digitise education for underserved students.
The initiative which is a flagship five-year partnership with UNICEF, has also given over 1 million students access to high-quality digital education resources and trained over 17,000 teachers on their effective usage.
Read also: AXIAN Telecom signs GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter to enhance disaster management
While discussing the effects of the Reimagine Education Programme, The Group Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Sunil Taldar said during his visit to one of the beneficiaries of the program, St. Agnes Primary School in Maryland, Lagos, that St. Agnes Primary School has made impressive strides through Nigeria Learning Passport initiative.
“What I witnessed today at St Agnes is truly remarkable,” Mr. Taldar stated after seeing students and educators engage with the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), one of the learning resources made available to schools through the program.
Goal of the Nigeria Learning Passport
The goal of the NLP is to encourage learning in and out of the classroom by offering parents, teachers, and students easily accessible, high-quality educational materials.
Alongside Mr Taldar were important Airtel officials, such as Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, UNICEF representatives led by UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office Celine Lafoucriere, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, and representatives from the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board.
The initiative, according to Airtel, is a vital step in closing the educational gap and guaranteeing that more Nigerian kids have access to high-quality educational materials.
“What I saw today at St. Agnes Primary School was impressive, and we are encouraged by the impact made for students and teachers through our partnership with UNICEF,” Taldar told the media following a demonstration of NLP and digital learning tools.
He added, “Our partnership with UNICEF is one of the ways we are ensuring that more children in Nigeria and beyond have access to digital learning tools that will equip them for their future. This visit reaffirms our dedication to making education more inclusive, accessible, and impactful.”
Read also: Airtel outage leaves subscribers frustrated, stranded in Zambia
Bridging digital divide in the educational system
Dinesh Balsingh, CEO and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, emphasised the value of technology-driven education, the effects of Airtel’s collaboration with UNICEF, and the Nigeria Learning Passport’s function in giving educators and learners access to vital digital resources.
He said, “At Airtel Nigeria, we are deeply committed to empowering young minds through technology-driven education. Our visit to St. Agnes Primary School underscores our dedication to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that more Nigerian children have access to quality learning resources.”
“Through our partnership with UNICEF, we continue to invest in initiatives like the Nigeria Learning Passport, which provides students and teachers with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world.”
UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office Celine Lafoucriere, on her part, stressed the value of teamwork to Reimagine Education.
“Education is a fundamental right, and digital learning has become a key enabler in bridging educational gaps. Our partnership with Airtel Africa and Airtel Nigeria continues to provide innovative learning solutions, ensuring that every child, regardless of location or socio-economic status, has the opportunity to learn and thrive,” she stated.
“We are excited about the ongoing implementation of the Nigeria Learning Passport and the transformation it brings to education in Nigeria,” she added.
Recall that Airtel and UNICEF visited Oremeji Primary School Ajegunle Lagos, one of Airtel Nigeria’s seven adopted schools, in 2023.
This visit to St. Agnes Primary School is part of a larger partnership with schools that benefit from the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), a digital education platform created by UNICEF in collaboration with Microsoft and the Nigerian government that supports learning in and out of the classroom by offering parents, teachers, and students easily accessible, high-quality educational content.