Digital Learning For 1000 Public School Students

Thank you, GlobalGiving! Thank you, donors! Your giving towards the Digital Learning for 1000 Public School Students project has truly made a difference in the lives of many young boys and girls from lower-income families in Lagos State, Nigeria. As we bring the project to a close, we bring you a report on work done and the impact of this project made possible through your support and generosity. 

In 2020, the Foundation launched a digital skilling program, Educating Via Zoom, for public school teachers in Lagos State, Nigeria. This was a response to the school closure brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. For students, especially those from low-income homes who do not have access to online learning, many hours of substantial and structured learning were lost during this period. We recognize the role a teacher’s skill plays on the educational outcomes of their students and as an effort to make up for learning loss for students, the teacher webinar series was designed to equip teachers for effective delivery of virtual instructions, optimal classroom management, and safe virtual student engagement.

206 teachers across 23 public schools in Lagos State benefited from the program. Our efforts towards skilling the educators did not stop at the end of their participation in the webinar series; mini-grants were awarded to successful applicants to support the development of their newly acquired skills through the practice of online classes with their students via Zoom. Although schools have since reopened, the skills learned by the teachers continue to be useful for them in their work and personal lives. 

In September 2022, digital skilling and digital career exposition webinars were organized for senior secondary school students across nineteen public schools in Lagos State. Over seventy students attended both webinars and internet data was provided to some of the participants who indicated their need for data support. The goal of the webinars was to pique their interest in the digital space and expose them to the different thriving digital careers in today’s world, thereby helping them to find a path that will both be fulfilling and rewarding. Here are some of the comments from participants at the end of the webinar: 

“I learnt a lot of things. I would like to develop skills in copywriting, digital marketing and 3D animation.”

“I plan to research further and utilize the list of learning resources to learn more about software development.”

“The training was interesting and educative. I am motivated to explore a career in IT.” 

Careers in the digital world have great prospects and can be financially rewarding. Exposing children from lower-income families to the range of opportunities in the digital space can help them to aspire and see the possibilities that exist for them. 

In 2023, the Foundation embraced a new approach to achieving its goal of equipping 1000 students with digital skills by addressing issues that hinder learning among young female learners from low-income families. Some of the issues identified were early exposure to sex and risky sexual behaviours, sexual abuse, and teenage pregnancy. The Foundation designed an intervention process and delivered sexuality education modules in twelve public senior secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. The modules covered topics on rights, types of abuse, how to identify abuse, risks of early sex, how to protect against sexual violence, and what to do in cases of sexual abuse. More than 300 girls were reached through the program who were also in turn encouraged to spread the word and be change agents in their schools and communities. 

By the end of January 2024, A SHE Life and Leadership training program (SLL) was delivered to 350 girls in 13 senior secondary public schools in Lagos State. The SLL training modules were specifically designed for young school-aged girls to equip and empower them with the skills and confidence to navigate life successfully, make a positive contribution to the community, and ultimately help contribute to positive life outcomes.

The 350 girls were taken through training on self-awareness, self-esteem, effective communication, goal setting, and leadership and ethics. The workshops were facilitated by trained CKF volunteers, and were highly interactive, allowing the girls to actively participate in the exercises and roleplays. At the end of the training, the girls reported improved self-esteem, improved communication skills, and increased awareness of their worth and how they can make a positive change in the lives of those around them, their families, and the society at large. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to impact these young boys and girls through this project and we look forward to your continued support. 

Links:

• CKF's Website