… Trains teachers on digital skills, equips 50 schools

… Says digital quiz competition will inspire students

Ondo State Government on Thursday unveiled a digital education agenda designed to reshape secondary school learning across the state, with teachers and students trained to key into a technology-driven system.

According to the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, who disclosed the development during the grand finale of the fourth edition of the state’s digital quiz competition held at the state capital, the program includes infrastructure upgrades and student development initiatives.

While stressing that the initiative signaled the government’s determination to bridge the technological gap in public education, Ajibefun emphasised that the development will further
Prepare the students for a future increasingly defined by digital competence.

The former vice chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, who outlined the scale of the government’s investment in educational technology, stated that the digitalisation drive extends beyond equipment provision and stressed that it will encompass holistic transformation of teaching and learning methodologies.

The commissioner disclosed that a technical partner had supplied computer equipment to 50 public secondary schools three weeks ago, with more schools expected to benefit in subsequent phases of the rollout.

Ajibefun emphasised that the digital education initiative is not a one-off intervention but a carefully planned, multi-year strategy, adding that training sessions for teachers have been ongoing since last year and will continue in the subsequent months.

He said, “The state government is investing heavily in digital education, with training of our teachers and training of students in preparation for the digitalization of our education system.” The training is a continuous process.

At least last month, with our partners, technical partners, and our ICT teachers in our public schools, they were trained for a whole week on digital education, and this is a continuous thing. It started last year, and it will continue to happen.

“For the students, you know, when you train the teachers, indirectly you are training the students; the teachers will go back to train the students.”

Ajibefun also hinted that no fewer than 50 secondary schools had been supplied digital equipment by a technical partner of the state.

“Digital equipment has been supplied to our education institutions, particularly secondary schools. About three weeks ago one of our technical partners, in partnership with the ministry of education, supplied computer equipment to 50 public schools in the states,” he stated.

In the digital quiz competition, the Education Commissioner explained that the competition was organized to promote digital literacy and prepare the students of the state for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

“The world is rapidly evolving into a digital society where knowledge, innovation, and technological skills have become indispensable tools for national development. As a government, we recognize that the future belongs to individuals who can effectively leverage technology to solve problems, create opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to society.

“The digital quiz competition was conceived to promote digital literacy, stimulate academic excellence, encourage healthy competition among schools, and prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Through this initiative, we seek to inspire our young learners to embrace technology not merely as consumers but as creators, innovators, and future leaders.”

On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Education, Akindele Ige, stated that the competition was to promote digital literacy among the students.

“The Onde Stale Digital Quiz Competition is more than an academic contest: it is a platform for nurturing critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and digital literacy among our young learners. Through initiatives such as this, we are equipping our young people with the skills and values required to succeed in a technology-driven world,” the PS noted.

Some of the schools that participated in the competition include Fiwasaye Girl Secondary School, Akure, and Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure. Greater Tomorrow Secondary School, Arigidi Akoko, among others.