NCC Launches Free Daily Data Access For Millions Of Learners
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
For millions of Nigerian learners, the cost of internet data can be as much a barrier to education as the lack of learning materials.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is now seeking to remove that barrier with a new initiative offering free daily access to approved educational platforms.
The NCC on Thursday launched its Zero-Rated Data Access to Educational Platforms and Content Initiative, under which eligible users will receive up to 100 megabytes of free data daily for educational purposes.
The allowance translates to about 700MB a week, 3GB a month and up to 36.5GB a year for each learner.
NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, described the scheme as an investment in Nigeria’s human capital and a necessary step towards the Federal Government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
He said affordable connectivity was essential if Nigerians were to benefit fully from digital skills and other education programmes.
“One hundred megabytes of data might sound a little, but when you look at it over a month and over a year, and cumulatively over the millions of learners and students that are going to access it, it’s really a significant investment by the industry towards the future of this country,” Maida said.
The initiative will initially operate through an Operator-Sponsored Model, with participating mobile network operators providing the zero-rated access to approved educational websites and platforms.
Eligible services include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher-development platforms and technical and vocational training platforms.
The NCC said the Federal Ministry of Education and the Commission will jointly approve and whitelist participating platforms, while operators and platforms will be subject to requirements covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection, data protection and net neutrality.
Maida said the initiative could also help reduce regional disparities in access to teachers and educational resources by allowing learners to connect with learning materials regardless of where they live.
The NCC said it would begin collecting data immediately to assess the programme’s educational, technical, financial and regulatory impact.
The findings will guide future adjustments and possible expansion of the scheme.
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, commended the NCC for tackling the cost of internet access, describing it as one of the major barriers to digital learning, particularly for students from low-income households.
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