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

The Ondo State Government says it has begun digitalising secondary education across the state, with teachers and students already undergoing training as part of the drive. Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, disclosed this on Friday in Akure at the grand finale of the fourth edition of the state's Digital Quiz Competition for secondary schools, organised in partnership with ICT firm Quickens Computer Limited. Ajibefun said the government has been investing heavily in digital education, with a significant number of teachers already trained and expected to pass that knowledge on to their students. He described the training as an ongoing process that began last year and will continue. "At least last month, with our technical partners, our ICT teachers in public schools were trained for a whole week on digital education, and this is a continuous exercise," he said, adding that training teachers effectively translates into training students, since teachers return to their schools to pass on what they've learned. The former Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, also revealed that around 50 public secondary schools have received digital equipment through one of the state's technical partners. "About three weeks ago, one of our technical partners, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, supplied computer equipment to 50 public schools in the state," he said. On the quiz competition itself, Ajibefun said it was designed to boost digital literacy and prepare students for the demands of a technology-driven world, describing the initiative as a way to encourage healthy competition among schools and inspire students to become creators and innovators rather than passive users of technology. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Akindele Ige, echoed similar sentiments, describing the competition as a platform for building critical thinking, creativity and digital literacy among students, and framing such initiatives as key to preparing young people for a technology-driven future. Schools that took part in this year's competition included Fiwasaye Girls' Secondary School, Akure; Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure; and Greater Tomorrow Secondary School, Arigidi Akoko, among others. Source: Original report (summarized and rewritten).