NAPPS, tech companies equip Rivers’ schools with digital tools

Private secondary schools in Rivers State are being provided with top-notch computer technological facilities to enable them meet the CBT (Computer Best Testing) digital literacy demands of Nigeria’s current education system.

This tech facilities’ upgrade is made possible through a collaboration between the National Association of Proprietors of Private Secondary Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State chapter), Teadro Infotech and Teadro Systems – companies dealing in computer hardware, ICT and networking systems – as well as Enerplaz Energy.

Speaking with BusinessDay shortly after a smart tech sensitisation seminar at Golden Tulips (LA Kings Event Centre), Stadium Road, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, Chairman of NAPPS, Rivers State chapter, Sunday Adafe Jaja, said the programme was aimed at enlightening private secondary schools’ proprietors on the need to migrate from analog system to digital system in line with the directives of the federal ministry of education.

“We’re here today to have a one-day smart school blueprint towards this new directive from the honourable minister of education who has directed all the education bodies and examination bodies to migrate from the usual analog system to the digital system called CBT (computer-based test). Having known about this, it’s important that we the private school operators also key in to know what to do in order not to be left out,” he explained.

Jaja said their partnership with Teadro Infotech and Enerplaz Energy has made it easy for private secondary schools to assess the ICT (information and communication technology) and networking systems required for the analog to digital migration despite the unfriendly economic situation in the country.

“We’re already in partnership (with Teadro and Enerplaz). That is why we also informed them to take the situation of things into consideration where they can at least design a payment structure that can ease keying in on the platform because if you know how things are now and you wait to get all the required amount of money to migrate, that means you cannot meet up. So, coming together like this has given us the opportunity to have a favourable payment structure that will enable us to move from where we are to where we ought to be,” he said.

Ehijinwa Temitope, managing director of Teadro Infotech and Teadro Systems, said her companies were committed to helping schools scale up technologically by offering them instalment payment packages for their products and services.

She said: “We’re trying to let schools know that they can pay by installments because it’s capital- intensive, especially now that WAEC is on. Now, WAEC is mandating schools to have ICT labs registered from the direct OEM. So, we’re making a flexible plan for schools. We’re also telling them that they can power their ICT labs using the solar means because of increase in energy cost. That is what we’re trying to let schools know, that they can buy computers by installment; and even their students can buy their laptops and pay by installment. So, it’s a win-win for them.”