2023 BayelsaPRIME Media Mentions

BayelsaPRIME, a bold move at democratising quality basic education

When teachers arrive at state-owned primary schools in Yenagoa, Sagbama, Ogbia, or Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas in Bayelsa state they do not sign in with pen and paper

They bring out their blue government-issued teacher-tablets, punch a few buttons and in a matter of seconds their exact arrival time is electronically transmitted to a server which can be monitored by basic education sector policymakers in the state capital, Yenagoa Their lesson guides for the day are also sent to the teacher-tablets (prior to any school day)

As each teacher progresses through the day, it is known remotely, which teachers are actually in class teaching and which teachers are not Interestingly, teachers who leave school before closing time can also be identified This was not possible a few months ago

BayelsaPRIME (Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise Education) a basic education reform policy which has changed the way teachers and education sector policymakers do their jobs introduced the changes as the government launched the programme to engender more efficient, productive schools

BayelsaPRIME is an EdTech programme that is using technology to improve access to basic education across Bayelsa state

Before the state launched the programme, there were at least sixteen distinct challenges ailing the school system

Teacher absenteeism, irrelevant curriculum, inadequate equipment and materials for teaching and learning and poor administrative skills teachers weighed heavily on the system

The evidence was poor learning outcomes among children and widespread loss of confidence in state-owned schools But this is not an exclusive Bayelsa problem

Beyond state borders

Across states in Nigeria, circa 10 5 million children are not in school according to UNICEF Despite the free primary education at the disposal of Nigerians, the full benefits do not trickle down In Bayelsa, unconfirmed figures put the number of out-of-school children at over 200,000 And this is just an aspect of the problem nationally

Four in 10 children in state-owed primary schools cannot read while eight out 10 are unable to read for comprehension, in a country where children make up a significant portion of the population

BayelsaPRIME is a rational response to these challenges at the state level Through the programme, the Bayelsa state government is addressing

the issue of out-of-school children, while also ensuring that learning outcomes drastically improve sustainably in the state in the shortest time possible

What makes BayelsaPRIME different?

Imagine a scenario where previously poorly motivated teachers are retrained, reoriented and equipped with technology to deliver on their mandates as teachers Imagine a scenario where children in remote, riverine villages have the same quality of lessons as those in the state capital

Imagine a scenario where all children get the same quality of education irrespective of their backgrounds or the socioeconomic status of their parents Imagine a scenario where teachers cannot falsify their school arrival or departure times and the government knows the set of teachers who are doing their jobs and those that are not These are possible through the technology that BayelsaPRIME provides

In January and February 2023, the first set of over 2,000 teachers and 222 headteachers from the primary school system were retrained for 10 days in readiness for the implementation of BayelsaPRIME in their schools

The period was utilised to train, orient, and equip the teachers with the necessary technical tools, classroom management skills, and pedagogy required to dramatically improve learning outcomes in their schools

They received 2,439 teacher tablets while their headteachers were equipped with smartphones, power banks, and chargers to facilitate their role in improving learning outcomes in schools Since their return to the classroom, this equipment has helped them carry out their new assignments daily

Apart from the initial training, ongoing coaching, mentoring, and support is in place for all 222 schools in the programme across the four pilot local government areas to ensure that teachers are effectively implementing the strategies and techniques learnt during the induction training They are additionally provided with continuous refresher training to improve the implementation process But the most exciting part is with the children

tFor the first time school is fun “We were shocked to see that children were at the forefront of getting other children back in school when we resumed,” a teacher at Community Primary School II, Trofani, Sagbama local government area, Amanda Akpogumere said a month after BayelsaPRIME came alive in her school The programme introduced a whole new culture in the classroom Making learning fun for children They sing when they are bored and need motivation And teachers are no longer frightening to the children, the BayelsaPRIME pedagogy ensures that children are free to speak up during the teaching and learning process and there is direct feedback and reward for excellence

For teachers, the programme has meant more support from the state government because the teacher tablets have obliterated the drudgery of preparing long lesson notes and supplier-proven lesson notes which can be studied beforehand in preparation for classes

For the headteachers, there has been an ease in the way schools are managed All pupil-related records are electronically stored in Apps provided by the reform programme, while data has become the backbone of performance review and evaluation

On a visit to schools in late March 2023, the Executive Secretary of Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (Bayelsa SUBEB), Chief Victor Okubonanabo noted that “I am seeing changes in the system ”

“For the fact that we haven’t gone too far if I can see these changes, it means we will get to a better level in the near future With BayelsaPRIME, basic education will drastically improve across Bayelsa State,” he continued

Stakeholders within the system attest to the impact technology is playing as government addresses the sixteen weaknesses of the basic education system in Bayelsa state

BayelsaPRIME Has Brought Progress, Says Bayelsa SUBEB Executive Secretary

The Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (Bayelsa SUBEB), Chief Victor Okubonanabo has commended the BayelsaPRIME (Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise Education) programme for its impact on stateowned primary schools

Chief Okubonanabo gave the commendation during his working visit to ten selected BayelsaPRIME schools located in the four pilot local government areas where the education reform programme has commenced: Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, and Yenagoa

“I am seeing changes in the system For the fact that we haven’t gone too far, if I can see these changes, it means we will get to a better level in the near future,” Okubonanabo said

“With BayelsaPRIME, I think basic education will drastically improve across Bayelsa state ”

BayelsaPRIME is a technology-based basic education reform programme aimed at improving learning outcomes in public primary schools across Bayelsa state Launched by Governor Douye Diri’s administration in early 2023, the programme has commenced fully in 222 schools with planned expansion in coming months

The programme commenced in earnest following a rigorous training of over 2000 teachers at the BayelsaPRIME Induction training which was held in Yenagoa in January and February 2023 The teachers and their headteachers were equipped with teachertablets and smartphones to ensure better delivery of lessons and school management Schools visited during the two-day working tour include Okoro Primary School in Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA; Model Primary School, Sagbama in Sagbama LGA; Universal Primary Education School, Ogbia Town in Ogbia LGA; and Model Primary School Biogbolo among others

Bayelsa SUBEB visits schools, lauds BayelsaPRIME

Executive Secretary of Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (Bayelsa SUBEB), Chief Victor Okubonanabo, has extolled the Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise Education (BayelsaPRIME) programme for its impact on state-owned primary schools

Okubonanabo gave the commendation during his working visit to 10 selected BayelsaPRIME schools located in the four pilot local councils that include: Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, and Yenagoa, where the education reform programme has commenced

“I am seeing changes in the system For the fact that we haven’t gone too far, if I can see these changes, it means we will get to a better level in the near future With BayelsaPRIME, I think basic education will drastically improve across Bayelsa State,” he said BayelsaPRIME is a technology-based basic education reform programme aimed at improving learning outcomes in public primary schools across Bayelsa State

Launched by Governor Douye Diri’s administration in early 2023, the programme began fully in 222 schools with planned expansion in coming months

The programme started in earnest following a rigorous training of over 2,000 teachers at the BayelsaPRIME induction training, which was held in Yenagoa in January and February 2023 The teachers and their headteachers were equipped with teacher-tablets and smartphones to ensure better delivery of lessons and school management Schools visited during the two-day working tour include Okoro Primary School in Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Council; Model Primary School, Sagbama in Sagbama Council; Universal Primary Education School, Ogbia Town in Ogbia Council; and Model Primary School Biogbolo, among others

Bayelsa SUBEB Executive Secretary visits schools, commends BayelsaPRIME

The Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (Bayelsa SUBEB), Chief Victor Okubonanabo has commended the BayelsaPRIME (Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise Education) programme for its impact on stateowned primary schools

Chief Okubonanabo gave the commendation during his working visit to ten selected BayelsaPRIME schools located in the four pilot local government areas where the education reform programme has commenced: Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, and Yenagoa

“I am seeing changes in the system For the fact that we haven’t gone too far, if I can see these changes, it means we will get to a better level in the near future,” Okubonanabo said “With BayelsaPRIME, I think basic education will drastically improve across Bayelsa state ” BayelsaPRIME is a technology-based basic education reform programme aimed at improving learning outcomes in public primary schools across Bayelsa state Launched by Governor Douye Diri’s administration in early 2023, the programme has commenced fully in 222 schools with planned expansion in coming months

The programme commenced in earnest following a rigorous training of over 2000 teachers at the BayelsaPRIME Induction training which was held in Yenagoa in January and February 2023 The teachers and their headteachers were equipped with teachertablets and smartphones to ensure better delivery of lessons and school management Schools visited during the two-day working tour include Okoro Primary School in Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA; Model Primary School, Sagbama in Sagbama LGA; Universal Primary Education School, Ogbia Town in Ogbia LGA; and Model Primary School Biogbolo among others

BayelsaPRIME: Gov. Diri’s Basic Education Masterstroke

BayelsaPRIME, a technology based basic education reform programme, is aimed at delivering dramacic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools across Bayelsa state, writes

Oluchi Chibuzor

As the sun rose on Monday 30, January 2023 in Trofani town Bayelsa state, primary school pupils, teachers and headteachers also rose in anticipation of a new term and beginning Teachers were particularly excited yet apprehensive about the prospect of the new start

Two weeks before resumption day, over 2,000 teachers and headteachers drawn from four local government areas had been in Yenagoa for a special reason They were at the BayelsaPRIME Induction Training which kickstarted Governor Douye Diri’s basic education reform programme Coined out of the words Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve & Modernise Education, BayelsaPRIME is designed to cause a major transformation in the way classes are conducted and how pupils across the pilot 222 primary schools receive learning

The induction training provided an opportunity to upskill teachers and steer their energies in the direction of a whole new methodology which has been proven to deliver exceptional results, especially in low income and minority communities

“We came into school knowing that we had been equipped to do things differently and better But we just didn’t know what the result or the response of the children was going to be on day-one,” said Amanda Akpogumere, who is a teacher at Community Primary School II, Trofani, Sagbama local government area

“By the third day we started seeing things we had never seen before,” she said, her eyes widening in excitement “The children were the ones inviting their fellow pupils to come to school because the environment was suddenly more inviting, exciting, accommodation and child-friendly ”

“It all begins with the training of the teachers. During their 10-day induction training, teachers are taught to develop a whole new mindset of possibilities. They are accultured to look on the bright side and consider all pupils as potential champions who should be assisted and encouraged to attain their full potential ”

WHAT MAKES BAYELSAPRIME DIFFERENT?

BayelsaPRIME is a technology based basic education reform programme aimed at delivering dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools across Bayelsa state The programme is transforming government primary schools into powerful public schools using innovative technology and data-driven platforms, quality learning materials, effective teacher professional development and ongoing coaching, and technology-enabled support teams who deliver 360-degree support to all stakeholders in the school ecosystem on a daily basis Regardless of a child’s location, income or education levels of the child’s parents, all children in state-owned schools now have a chance to thrive and succeed academically Under BayelsaPRIME all children are properly profiled into a database that enables policy makers track their academic progress with a view of helping them succeed Under the programme, learning outcomes are critical and strategies aimed at improving them are at the core of school activities

It all begins with the training of the teachers During their 10-day induction training, teachers are taught to develop a whole new mindset of possibilities They are accultured to look on the bright side and consider all pupils as potential champions who should be assisted and encouraged to attain their full potential Key themes at the training include pupil motivation, modern classroom management techniques,

child protection, the place of technology in deliver of impactful lessons, amongst other important topics During the training, each teacher is assigned a teacher-tablets which facilitates teaching and learning back in school Lesson guides are sent to the teachers through the tablets to ensure that a structured approach to teaching is attained across all schools and classrooms simultaneously Through the tablets, teachers who are not teaching and those who are not punctual in school can be identified for counselling and reorientation

The tablets also serve as a source of information and news from the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (Bayelsa SUBEB) and the State Ministry of Education It is the tool through which school attendance is electronically recorded for teachers and pupils “On the first day of resumption teachers were enthusiastic to mark arrival using the teacher tablet Unlike in the past when teachers could come late and still sign 7 30am in the school register, most teachers were in school at the right time to sync with the headteacher’s smartphone,” said Amanda

The headteacher smartphone of which Amanda spoke is the smartphone assigned to each headteacher Applications in it ensure that schools and teachers are optimally managed It is the only device required to access the internet periodically for BayelsaPRIME to function

THE GAP EVERYONE KNOWS

BayelsaPRIME was launched by Governor Diri to address specific gaps in the basic education system which are not peculiar to Bayelsa state Nigeria is experiencing learning poverty as an estimated 70 percent of 10-year-olds cannot read, understand a simple sentence or perform basic numeracy task, according to the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) The challenge has been attributed to factors including, poor funding of schools, low quality and skill level of teachers, availability of teachers in schools and other factors outside the school system The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says the current number of out-of-school children in Nigeria stands at 20 million Globally the figure is 244 million with India, Nigeria and Pakistan contributing the highest figures globally At a seminar in 2022, UNICEF Communication Specialist, Geoffrey Njoku, noted that there is no way the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be achieved by 2030 without focusing on children’s rights and education

BayelsaPRIME is designed to place Bayelsa state on the path of attaining SDG 4 which specifically addresses education and lifelong learning Governor Diri is ensuring that the right amount of time and resources are being deployed to attain the programme’s objectives In complete compliance to the governor’s intentions, the Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board are working hand-in-hand to see to the success of BayelsaPRIME While speaking at the last Bayelsa Education Summit, the Honourable commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah noted that “the educational sector which lies in the plans, policies for pedagogical engagement and strategies of government would require proper evaluation and overhauling to meet with the needs of society as we gradually approach the first half of the 21st Century ” BayelsaPRIME is a strategic programme aimed at meeting that need through better learning outcomes Speaking on her initial assessment of the programme in her school Amanda notes that, “if we are able to maintain this tempo with which we started, the children will benefit We are using songs, cheers, energizers to make the classrooms more interesting for them From what we can see they are learning better ”

Excitement in schools as BayelsaPRIME brings new teaching techniques, technology

Governor Douye Diri’s signature basic education sector reform programme, BayelsaPRIME has sparked excitement and greater participation in schools across the four pilot local government areas where it has been implemented

Across Yenagoa, Ogbia, Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas where the reform commenced, teachers and pupils continue to attest to the initial impact of the programme which kicked off after the 10day BayelsaPRIME Induction Training in Yenagoa

“BayelsaPRIME is making the children learn more,” Amanda Akpogumere, a teacher at Community Primary School II, Trofani, Sagbama local government area said “we are seeing a new trend among the children They are now encouraging other children to come to school because the classes are livelier, and the songs and cheers of BayelsaPRIME are improving the learning process ”

Another teacher, Abe Oweibe from Okaka Primary School, Yenagoa noted that pupils are really enjoying this new method of teaching “Come and see when students are dancing to the new songs they have learnt, they are catching up with the lessons in an exciting, fun way,” she said

Over 2,000 teachers and headteachers from across the pilot local government areas underwent the BayelsaPRIME Induction Training in January The training has enabled teachers to use tablets and internet enabled smartphones for most classroom management activities including marking teacher arrival, student attendance and examination papers

The training has also enabled teachers employ a whole new method of relating with children thereby creating a sense of self-value and cando spirit in children BayelsaPRIME children are praised for exceptional performance and encouraged to do better when they do not measure up to expectation Additionally, slow learners are encouraged to catch-up to enable them surpass expectations

Senator Douye Diri launched BayelsaPRIME to drastically improve learning outcomes among children in Bayelsa state The reform programme is designed to impact the academic fortunes of pupils in the 222 primary schools where it is now operational, and the career trajectory of teachers in those schools

Tech-based teaching will reform schools, says Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Government has said the newly introduced BayelsaPRIME will revolutionarise teaching and learning in Bayelsa state-owned primary schools

A statement signed by the Bayelsa Ministry of Education stated that the BayelsaPRIME (Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise Education), was the flagship of the basic education reform programme of the Senator Douye Diri-led administration

It read, “The programme which is executed by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education and the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board will use technology-based teaching methods and proven modern classroom management techniques as tools to improve pupil participation in classroom, learning outcomes and school attendance ”

It added that over 2,000 teachers and headteachers drawn from four Local Government areas had concluded the BayelsaPRIME Induction training

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Commissioner for Education Bayelsa State, Dr Gentle Emelah, “Teachers in the four pilot Local Governments Areas will no longer face the drudgery of preparing lesson notes as proven and effective lessons will be delivered to them through their teacher-tablets weekly “They will also receive continuous support and teacher professional development throughout the school calendar

“Additionally, all data collection processes including marking of teacher and pupil arrival in schools and recording of examination scores will be carried out through the teacher tablets

The data will be housed in a server that will support empirical policymaking going forward “His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri conceptualised this policy in response to challenges facing our educational system ” “ One thing is sure, our children are going to start learning better with this policy in place,” he added Also speaking at the graduation ceremony, a teacher from Government Model School Kiama, Ms Tsubaleifa Kiekaiesa, thanked Diri for going the extra mile to upskill Bayelsa State teachers

BayelsaPRIME: Governor Diri’s education transformation program kicks off

To kickstart the basic education reform of Governor Douye Diri in Bayelsa state, over 2,000 teachers and headteachers drawn from four local government areas (LGAs) have concluded their BayelsaPRIME Induction training

BayelsaPRIME (Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernize Education), the flagship basic education reform programme of the Diri-led administration, is set to revolutionise teaching and learning in Bayelsa state-owned primary schools

The programme which is managed by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education and the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (Bayelsa SUBEB) will use technologybased teaching methods and proven modern classroom management techniques as tools to improve pupil participation in the classroom, learning outcomes and school attendance

Teachers in the four pilot LGAs will no longer face the drudgery of preparing lesson notes as proven and effective lessons will be delivered to them weekly through the tablets meant for teachers

They will also receive continuous support and teacher professional development throughout the school calendar

Additionally, all data collection processes including marking of teacher and pupil arrival in schools and recording of examination scores will be carried out through the tablets

The data will be housed in a server supporting empirical policymaking going forward

““His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri conceptualized this policy in response to challenges facing our educational system,” Dr Gentle Emelah, the Honourable Commissioner for Education Bayelsa State said at the graduation ceremony for the teachers

Indeed, this is a new dawn for education in Bayelsa state One thing is sure, our children are going to start learning better with this policy in place With the implementation of this technology, we can now be sure that our teachers will be in school, and we can also know if they are teaching or not,” he added Also speaking at the graduation ceremony, Tsubaleifa Kiekaiesa a Government Model School Kiama teacher, thanked Governor Diri for going the extra mile to upskill Bayelsa state teachers

“I have been a teacher for many years, but the training I got here cannot be compared with what I have received in the past This is a 100% overhaul,” Kiekaiesa said “With this training, our classes are going to be extremely interesting for the children I urge parents to send their children back to government schools so that they can fully benefit from this new pedagogy,” she asserted Schools across Bayelsa state resume for the second term of the 2022/ 2023 academic session on February 1, 2023