An instructor at Government High school, Adeta, Ilorin, Kwara State, Mrs. Omotayo Abiodun Buraimoh, teaching with the educational bouquet donated by MultiChoice Nigeria, during an assessment tour of the project in the state...recently

MultiChoice Nigeria was in Ilorin, Kwara State, recently, to assess the impact of its resource centre project, launched in some schools in 2010. Funmi Ogundare was there

Teachers and students of some schools in Ilorin, Kwara State, have applauded the effort of MultiChoice Nigeria, with its Resource Centre project, which it launched in 2010, saying that aside enhancing teaching and learning, it has also improved the quality of their results in internal and external examinations in the last two years.

The organisation had deployed information and communications tools such as a television sets, DVD recorder, satellite dish and decoder, a generator and a set of chairs and desks for the laboratory.

With the assistance of its implementing partner, SchoolNet Nigeria and the ministry of education, it also conducted a teacher-training programme for the master trainers who in-turn trained other colleagues on the use and integration of the special education bouquet into their learning environment, as well as curriculum. 

An educator's guide was also provided for the teachers and the schools on the use and maintenance of the facilities.
Speaking during an assessment tour of the project by the organisation to her school, Principal of Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, Alhaja Munirat Ayinla described the education bouquet as laudable as her students could now harmonise what they have seen on television, with what they were taught in the classroom.

"The students are very enthusiastic about the programme because what they watch or see at the centre goes a long way in making learning interesting and easy. The children can always apply the things they see to what is happening around them", she said
She added that with the instructional materials used in teaching various subjects, the results of the school's external examinations have improved to about 80 percent.

Ayinla however noted that her school encountered challenges in the areas of electric power supply, finance to sustain and maintain the project, as well as ensuring the inclusion of local content were included into the programmes since most of them were foreign.
A Mathematics/Further-Mathematics teacher, Mr. Ahmed Olodo, who coordinates the centre, said the students have developed more interest in the subjects since they could see what they had been taught.

"The difference is clear in the Further-Maths class. They love the subject compared with before and made 100 percent score in Continuous Assessment (CA) and examination."

A student, Miss Nadrat Oyewale, 14, who described herself as an average student before the launch of the project, said her results have improved to at least 81 percent, adding, "I find Mathematics very interesting and simple. The teachers have also been trying their best to ensure that we understand what they are teaching."

At Government High School, Adeta, the visiting team met a teacher, Mrs. Omotayo Buraimoh, teaching her students Biology, using the MultiChoice bouquet.

She said it has made her teaching easier, and the students can now practice what they have seen on the screen. "There is less work to do now. The instructional material sticks more to their memory and they are motivated are eager to learn."
She however complained that the time allotted her to teach for 40 minutes was too short , adding that electric power failure hinders her teaching and that most of the programmes on the  bouquet, usually come up in the afternoon after the school's closing hour.
"We cannot delay the students from going home because of that", she said.

The Principal, Alhaja Mariam Abiodun Abdulmalik, said it has improved the results of her students especially in the area of Science, but however noted that the centre is not enough to go round all the students in the school, despite the roster that had been prepared for each teacher to take his/her class.

She thanked the organisation for the gesture saying that it is a way of uplifting the education sector in the country, adding that it is a project, which the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) could take up if they are committed to it.

In Barakat Community Senior Secondary School, the story is slightly the same, as the Principal; Alhaja Risikat Babaita Rufai said her school had to make use of recorded educational discs to teach the students as a result of erratic power supply, and buying petrol for the generator.

She expressed regret that the students who graduated last year were not able to use the centre, adding that constant transfer of trained teachers out of the school was a challenge.

A student Master Abdulrazak Abubakar who said his favourite subject is Biology, said what he had been taught with the bouquet, was more than he knew before.

Head of Corporate Communications, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Segun Fayose, expressed delight about the resource centre, saying that it has impacted the lives of both the teachers and students.

"From the testimonies of the students, the centre has made it possible for them to better understand their lessons through the imagery of sound while the teachers have also testified that the centre has made teaching a more worthwhile and enjoyable experience."

He expressed the readiness of his organisation to continue to invest in the project and ensure that, "we systematically fast track the roll out for more schools to further raise the standard of education in the country."
Fayose noted that the tour was necessary to assure benefitting schools that MultiChoice is commited to the sustenance of the project and to elicit relevant feedback concerning areas for improvement.