As we journey forward and take a moment to look back at some of the incredible milestones and achievements that AGILE in Ekiti state has accomplished, from flag-off to renovation and refurbishments of schools, to procurement of teaching tools and creating a conducive learning environment, each step has contributed to growth and success.
AGILE, the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, is revolutionizing education with a dynamic approach. Going beyond traditional methods, AGILE tailors education for holistic empowerment, addressing academic, social, and emotional needs. Mirroring Agile methodologies, it unfolds in iterations, recognizing the continuous journey of growth for each girl. AGILE fosters collaboration, creating a supportive community and adapting to diverse challenges. Its impact extends beyond classrooms, breaking down barriers to education, and shaping empowered futures for adolescent girls. AGILE is not just a program; it’s a dynamic force for lasting change. EKITI AGILE PROJECT has gone beyond what can be neglected as it renovated classrooms, administrative blocks, hostels, built washing rooms, procured laptops, internet facilities, solar systems, smartbaords and teaching aids for students in public secondary schools in Ekiti state.
One of the many success stories of EKITI AGILE is the educational renaissance via e-teaching and e-learning across public secondary schools. As the educational landscape evolves, Ekiti State is not just keeping pace; it’s leading the way. AGILE introduces a digital revolution across 203 schools with state-of-the-art smart boards—tools that not only enhance teaching methods but also unveil new horizons of interactive and engaging learning for students.
At Ujilogun High School, situated in Ilupeju Ijan Ekiti, a farm settlement, emerged as a beacon of educational progress, following transformative initiatives led by the Ekiti State Government and supported by the World Bank through the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Projects of the Ministry of Education. This achievement comes after the school underwent a comprehensive overhaul in critical areas, including classrooms, teachers’ offices, and the library. The school’s progress highlights versatility of Ujilogun’s teaching so much that even non-ICT teachers successfully incorporate smart boards into their lessons.
The SMART boards were used extensively to deliver different aspects of the curriculum. Examples of learning activities that students were engaged in included calculations, teaching, collaborative group presentations, searching for extra information and using histograms and other tools available on the boards. Students also did interactive quizzes where they would drag and drop items while answering questions, with input from the rest of the class. If the answer was incorrect, the board would show appropriate smiley icon. Students also displayed a lot of confidence when they were performing various activities on the boards. In some classes, videos were played to demonstrate experiments and other processes.
Students reported that the capabilities of the SMART boards to present information in this visual manner greatly assisted them in understanding concepts better. The students also reported that the use of the SMART boards gave them opportunities to participate more in class than they normally would in lessons where the boards were not used. They were eager to go to the computer laboratory where the smartboard is, to attend lessons. The use of the smartboards helped the students to understand and to remember things better. For them: “It is exciting to touch the screen and then information comes. According to them, if all students were using the board, they would perform better in their academics.
Feedback from the usage of the smartboards revealed that they are a powerful tool in the hands of students and teachers to bring the required changes to learning environments. As such, a wider use of these tools is highly recommended in the endeavour to revolutionize the education system. The Principal of Ujilogun, Mrs. Nike Adebiyi, reiterated the AGILE’s commitment to the school’s development. She emphasized that the impact of these improvements extends beyond the school’s walls, as it has attracted a notable surge in enrolment, stating further stated that neighboring private schools, including Matford Group of Schools, have redirected their students to Ujilogun High School after recognizing the appeal and quality of education facilitated by AGILE projects. She highlighted the introduction of solar power in the school, dispelling darkness and symbolizing a broader dawn of progress, adding that the sustainable energy source has not only illuminated physical spaces but signifies a new era for the students at Ujilogun High School.
One of the non-ICT teacher, a Mathematics Teacher, Bankole Daramola, stated that modern teaching tools such as smart boards, photocopy machines, and printers have revolutionized pedagogy, making lessons more engaging and accessible. He added that the transition from traditional chalkboards to an interactive smart board has enhanced subjects like ICT, Biology, Mathematics, Basic Science, Physics, and Chemistry.
Ujilogun High School Celebrates Educational Renaissance with Agile Projects