The federal government, through the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP), has provided 30 mobile laboratories and virtual reality headsets to enhance educational development in the North East.

Sa’adatu Shehu, chairperson of the ASSEP project implementation committee, announced this during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting and programme assessment on Monday in Yola.

The ASSEP intervention project was launched on May 20,2024 by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Bauchi.

Mrs Shehu explained that the programme, an initiative of the Office of the Vice President and funded by the North East Development Commission (NEDC), aims to address gaps in the quality of secondary education across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states.

She said the provision of instructional materials is designed to equip students with the academic knowledge and practical skills required for the modern workforce.

“The region has faced persistent challenges due to conflict, limited infrastructure, and gaps in teacher quality and educational resources.

“As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, ASSEP is transforming education in Northeast Nigeria by focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Agriculture (STEMA).

“This initiative aims to improve student learning, foster healthy competition, and promote excellence in STEMA subjects,” she said.

Aisha Umar, permanent secretary of the ministry of education and human capital development, Adamawa, commended the federal government for the initiative, describing it as a great step towards improving education in the region.

She noted that the Northeast has suffered from long standing neglect in the education sector due to persistent conflict.

Mrs Umar encouraged teachers and students to embrace the programme, emphasising its potential to transform education in Adamawa.

She also expressed gratitude to the NEDC for its efforts, stating that the initiative would significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children and enhance teacher capacity.

Godiya Mamza, a teacher at General Murtala Mohammed College also praised the NEDC, noting that the training provided under the initiative has greatly improved her teaching skills and students’ learning outcomes.