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Nigeria’s Federal Government has launched an Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP) targeted at overhauling school infrastructure, modernising curricula and boost virtual learning.
The initiative is a major policy drive to bridge the gaping educational divide in the country, beginning from the North-East region.
Vice President Kashim Shettima while launching the initiative said the comprehensive, phased programme aims to rapidly upgrade secondary education across three core pillars, including enhancing access to tertiary institutions, imparting market-relevant skills, and upskilling teachers to stay ahead of disruptive innovations like artificial intelligence.
Shettima, according to a release issued by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, emphasised that the initiative directly addresses President Bola Tinubu’s vision to confront the North-East’s multifaceted challenges – from the security crisis to stagnant human capital outcomes.
In his address entitled, “Bridging the Gap: Transforming Education in the North-East,” the Vice President declared that they had assembled to undertake the noble mission of safeguarding the educational opportunities that had empowered successive generations to achieve their current standing.
He noted that the vast disparity in quality of life between those who embrace education and those who do not serve as a glaring and lasting reminder of the profound benefits education provides.
According to him: “We occupy bottom-most positions in education indices, reflective of our inability to enforce uniform policies on school enrolment amid persistent cultural pushback in some communities”.
While primary education “provides the foundational interest in Western education,” the Vice President said “it is secondary education that serves as the critical bridge between students and their paths to becoming self-reliant and relevant in modern society.”
Under ASSEP’s umbrella, government at the centre will stimulate high-quality instruction, incentivise STEM achievement, revamp dilapidated classrooms to modern specifications, and cultivate an enriching academic environment through innovations like quiz competitions, exam coaching camps and intensive teacher training.
Earlier in his remarks, on behalf of governors of the North East region, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, pledged the support of governors from the region in the successful rollout of the programme in the area.
According to him, the ASSEP programme aligns with the focus of the various state governments in the education sector which seeks to improve the quality of teachers, learning outcomes in schools and the overall educational environment, leveraging technology.
