Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revolutionizing education through digital learning, by establishing digital classes in all schools in the state.
Governor Oyebanji stated this on Tuesday during the commissioning of a Digital Smart School donated by the Chairman and Chief Executive of Equipment Hub Group, Mr Gbolahan Olayomi at the Government College, Ado Ekiti.
The Governor acknowledged that the Digital Smart School, equipped with Modern ICT tools and e-learning Platforms, is part of his administration’s education blueprint to elevate the standards of public schools, adding that other public schools in the state would soon benefit from the opportunity.
Commending the Donor for giving back to the Community, Governor Oyebanji stated that the e-learning facility donated by the Equipment Hub was designed to boost instructional delivery in the school and facilitate effective teaching and learning for improved learning outcomes.
While disclosing that the school was situated at the Government College based on its history of high academic performance, Governor Oyebanji said, ”When the request came, I asked the Ministry of Education, which school in the state has been doing well. If a donor has come to give us this magnitude of investment, there must be value addition. Because their decision is to take it to my community, and I said no. And I know this will add more value to your performance and I thank God that I didn’t allow primordial sentiments to obscure my sense of objectivity.”
He also disclosed that his administration will soon embark on training and retraining of teachers that will align with global digital trends and can fit into the digital world with excellent use of computer and other Interactive technology gadgets among others.
The Governor stated further that his government had also finalized plans to recruit 1,800 teaching and non-teaching staff to strengthen the education system as well as prepare them for introduction of digital smart schools in other secondary schools in the state.
“I just spoke with TESCOM chairman, and I’m going to say this publicly, very soon we are going to start recruitment for teachers. I approved recruitment of 1,800 teachers and non-teaching staff, and It must be based strictly on merit. And if anybody comes to you using my name just know it is a lie. I’m not going to send anybody to you, and I’m saying it publicly here”, the Governor added.
The encouraged teachers and students to continue to take advantage of various capacity building programmes of government to improve themselves and enhance their performance, restating the commitment of his administration to making quality education accessible to school age children through the free and compulsory education programmes from primary to secondary school level.
In her remarks, the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi commended Governor Oyebanji for his phenomenon transformational leadership in the state, which she said has touched virtually all sectors of the economy.
Dr Olomojobi, who equated the facility in the school to what is available in developed countries of the world called on parents to take advantage of facilities in the school by enrolling their children and wards in order to benefit from the world class technology available in the smart school.
In his address, the Donor, Mr Gbolahan Olayomi described the project as a bold step towards transforming Education in Ekiti State adding that the project aligns with Governor Oyebanji’s vision in preparing Ekiti children for the demands of a technologically advanced world.
He added that the facility replaces traditional chalkboards and marker boards with state-of-the-art, interactive digital screens equipped with cameras as well as digital screens that capture classroom activities and allow students to revisit lessons at any time, while also enabling remote participation for learners outside the school premises.
The facility, according to Mr Olayomi comprises of 16 solar powered smart classrooms, 16 interactive touchscreens from Wowbii brand, Internet access into all the classrooms and CCTV for effective monitoring.