Ondo Rolls Out Digital Education in 50 Secondary Schools, Trains Teachers

The Ondo State Government has stepped up efforts to modernise secondary education across the state, with the ongoing digitalisation programme already seeing teachers and students receive training in digital education.

The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, disclosed this in Akure during the grand finale of the fourth edition of the Ondo State Digital Quiz Competition for secondary schools.

The competition, organised in partnership with ICT firm Quickens Computer Limited, brought together students from different schools and provided an opportunity for them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in technology.

Ajibefun explained that the digitalisation of secondary education is part of the state government's broader effort to ensure that students are adequately prepared for a world increasingly shaped by technology.

Teachers Receiving Continuous Digital Training

According to the commissioner, the state government has been investing significantly in digital education, with teachers serving as one of the major focus areas of the programme.

He explained that several teachers have already received training and are expected to transfer the knowledge and skills they acquire to students in their respective schools.

Ajibefun described the training as a continuous process that began last year and is expected to continue as the state expands its digital education programme.

He disclosed that ICT teachers in public secondary schools recently underwent a week-long training programme organised in collaboration with the state's technical partners.

The commissioner stressed that training teachers is an important part of the digital education strategy because teachers are responsible for taking what they learn back to their classrooms.

According to him, equipping teachers with relevant digital knowledge creates a multiplier effect, allowing the benefits of the training to reach a much larger number of students across the state.

He said the government would continue to work with technical partners to strengthen the digital skills of teachers and improve the quality of technology-based learning in schools.

50 Public Schools Receive Computer Equipment

Beyond teacher training, the Ondo State Government is also providing schools with the equipment needed to support digital learning.

Ajibefun revealed that approximately 50 public secondary schools recently received computer equipment through the intervention of one of the state's technical partners.

He said the equipment was supplied about three weeks before the digital quiz finale as part of ongoing efforts to provide schools with the tools required to make digital education practical.

The commissioner noted that digital education cannot be achieved through training alone. Students and teachers also need access to appropriate equipment and learning facilities to put their knowledge into practice.

The distribution of computers to the 50 schools therefore represents another step towards expanding access to technology within the state's public education system.

The government is expected to continue building on such partnerships as it works to extend digital resources and training to more schools.

Digital Quiz Promotes Technology and Innovation

The Digital Quiz Competition has become another component of the state's efforts to expose secondary school students to technology.

Ajibefun explained that the competition was designed not only to test students' knowledge but also to encourage digital literacy, creativity and innovation.

He said the initiative was intended to prepare students for the demands of a technology-driven world while creating an environment where schools could compete positively.

The commissioner also encouraged students to move beyond simply consuming technology and develop the confidence to become creators and innovators.

This approach reflects the changing expectations of education systems around the world, where students are increasingly required to understand how technology works and how it can be applied to solve problems.

By introducing students to digital competitions and practical technology-based activities, the state government hopes to encourage young people to develop skills that can benefit them both academically and professionally.

Government Wants Students Ready for the Future

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Akindele Ige, also highlighted the importance of digital education in preparing students for the future.

Ige described the quiz competition as an opportunity for students to develop critical thinking, creativity and digital literacy.

He said programmes that expose students to technology are important because young people will eventually enter a workforce where digital skills are expected across many different professions.

Digital knowledge is no longer limited to students studying computer science or information technology. Students pursuing subjects across the sciences, arts, social sciences and other disciplines increasingly require technology skills to conduct research, communicate effectively and compete for opportunities.

The state government's digital education programme therefore has the potential to benefit students beyond the classroom by helping them develop skills that can be applied in higher education and future careers.

Schools Participate in the Competition

Several secondary schools participated in the fourth edition of the Digital Quiz Competition.

Among the schools that took part were Fiwasaye Girls' Secondary School, Akure, Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, and Greater Tomorrow Secondary School, Arigidi Akoko, alongside other schools from across Ondo State.

The participation of schools from different communities demonstrates the growing interest in technology-based academic activities within the state's secondary education system.

For students, competitions such as the digital quiz provide an opportunity to test their knowledge outside the conventional classroom environment while interacting with students from other schools.

They also encourage healthy competition and can help identify students with strong interests and abilities in technology and related areas.

A Long-Term Digital Education Strategy

The Ondo State Government's latest initiatives suggest that the digital transformation of secondary education is being approached as a long-term process rather than a one-time project.

With teacher training continuing, computer equipment being supplied to schools and students being encouraged to participate in technology-focused competitions, the government is gradually building different parts of the digital education ecosystem.

The success of the programme, however, will depend on the ability to sustain training, maintain equipment and ensure that students in both urban and rural communities have meaningful access to digital learning opportunities.

For now, the government says the process is already underway, with teachers being trained and schools receiving equipment.

As Ondo State continues its digital education drive, the focus is increasingly shifting towards preparing students not just to use technology, but to understand it, create with it and apply it to real-world challenges.

The Digital Quiz Competition is one part of that wider effort, providing students with an avenue to develop their knowledge while reinforcing the state's commitment to building a more digitally prepared generation.