Education
THE Imo Government has approved an operational license for GetBundi, an educational technology platform.
Getbundi runs Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) studies online and also operates a Digital Skills Acquisition Centre.
The approval was contained in a letter from the Commissioner of Education dated 31st October, 2022 and signed by Mr L. I. Okereke, Deputy Director, STTE.
It had the title: “Approval to operate a private digital skills acquisition centre”.
It referred to the outfit’s application letter dated 22nd August, 2022 and endorsed its quest to operate an online studies outfit and a skills acquisition centre leading to examinations conducted by government-recognised bodies.
The approval takes effect from 1st December, 2022.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GetBundi is designed to ease access to high quality education to young Africans.
According to its founder, Mr Osita Oparaugo, GetBundi will be dedicated to STEM learning with special focus on six years of post-primary school.
The outfit will also offer Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Skills Acquisition programmes targeted at everyone.
“We are focused on STEM and English Language educational courses for Junior Secondary School 1-3 and Senior Secondary School 1-3.
“Our digital skills programme under STI is targeted at youths and entrepreneurs across Africa,” he told NAN.
Oparaugo said that the exclusive product is targeted at revolutionising secondary education and skills acquisition using technology.
He explained that the GetBundi programmes were designed to help African youths overcome challenges with STEM subjects.
“We have already created 1,008 hours of audio visual content covering six years of secondary school work using the West African curriculum.
“It can be used as teachers’ aid, support to in-school students as continuous learning and as a study guide for out-of-school students.
“It can also be used to prepare those standing for competitive examinations like WAEC, NECO or University and Tertiary Matriculation Examinations organised by JAMB,” he said.
Oparaugo said that he was already talking with the African Union and ECOWAS.
“I want the two intergovernmental bodies to take advantage of this initiative to boost science and technology courses in the African continent.
“It is the best way forward toward creating a generation that will take Africa to the next level through technology.
“This is a very good initiative; I want African governments to recognise it and push it,” Oparaugo said.
Commenting on the approval, Oparaugo, the edtech expert, restated GetBundi’s commitment to its vision of up-skilling, through the STEM and digital skills centre, 10 million Africans by 2032 and beyond.
“Our prime vision is to create an inclusive sustainable development driven by technology.
“We have a vision to upskill 10 million Africans in 10 years – 2023-2032. We have tagged this plan as ‘The GetBundi VISION 2032,” Oparaugo said.
He said that the centre would start with six years of secondary school STEM subjects of about 1,008 hours and 312 hours of digital skills courses that can make holders instantly employable in the 21st century and beyond.
The GetBundi founder said the digital skills would cover courses like Coding, Graphics, Cinematography, Video Editing, Digital Marketing, Cyber Security, among others.
He revealed that GetBundi had some of the digital skills courses delivered in Pidgin English which would be “a game changer”.
“One of our goals with GetBundi is to enable our learners to acquire knowledge, skills and behaviours that will help them to transform their lives and improve the prospects of employment and productivity in employment.
“Jobs will vanish, new jobs will be created and majority will be in the digital space. Our target is to upskill and reskill Nigerians/Africans with 21st century skills that will make them instantly employable,” he said.
On the STEM courses, Oparaugo said they were based on the West African School Syllabus for secondary schools and could be used as teachers’ aid, to support continuous learning for in-school students, and as a study guide for out-of-school students.
GetBundi was launched in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, in June 2022 and had since continued to gain acceptance across the country and beyond.
The dedicated web and mobile app versions will be opened on 1st December, 2022. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: GetBundi Mr L. I. Okereke Mr Osita Oparaugo NECO WAEC
