The Prince Dapo Abiodun-led government in Ogun State has distributed 750 Computer Laptops to STEM teachers across the State, towards ensuring effective and efficient usage of its Technological Innovation and Initiatives in imparting learners with knowledge.
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, revealed this during a-day Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting on IC3, MCE and Progressive Science Initiative and Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PSI-PMI) Training, organised by the Ministry and funded by Ogun State Economic Transformation Projects, (OGSTEP) for selected Teachers in the State at Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, saying, the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s plan was targeted at one-teacher-to a laptop.
Prof. Arigbabu recalled that, the present administration had earlier trained over 200 teachers on IC3 and MCE digital literacy with certification, functionality of the Digital Platform of the Ogun State Education Revitalisation Agenda as well as 750 STEM teachers on PSI-PMI teaching methodology, hence the need to equip them with digital equipment to foster excellent teaching and learning in classrooms.
Arigbabu, according to Mr. Samuel Ogungbesan, Information and Public Relations Officer, MOES&T, hinted that the Ministry was set to line up sessions that would enable the trained officers to cascade all they have learnt to empower others, saying digital literacy would soon be one of the major criteria to get employed as a teacher in the State.
We have done so much in the area of digitalisation, that a teacher who is not digitally literate might not be able to fit in, even though the laptops were given to the trained teachers, they are just to be the custodian of it, it should be seen as property of the government,’’ he said.
In her welcome address, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko, enjoined teachers to see the development as an opportunity for self-improvement, adding that knowledge gained should be cascaded to others for efficiency and productivity.
On her part, Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Melutia Ogunremi, hinted that the Commission was set to begin training and retraining of teachers as well as Vice Principals and Principals to further enhance their output, advising the beneficiaries of the computer Laptops to use it to improve their skills and knowledge of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
Speaking, the Project Manager Skills Development, OGSTEP, Mr. Fatai Osunsanya, affirmed that the laptops were presented to teachers to boost their capacity building, adding that the laptops would be left in the school even when the teachers were transferred or retired.
Separately in their goodwill messages, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Comrade Felix Agbesanwa, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Noah Sewakanu represented by the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Ebenezer Adebowale and President, All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Mr. Edward Adekoya represented by the Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Osiname commended the Commissioner on his dedication to enhance educational standard and fostering innovations to set a strong foundation for the future of learners, urging the subject teachers to apply and synthesise the knowledge gained to inspire and educate the future generations.
Responding, two of the beneficiaries, ICT Teachers from Remo Secondary School, Sagamu Mr. Adekunle Adelabu and his counterpart from Orile Ilugun Comprehensive High School, Odeda Mrs. Omolayo Omotayo, appreciated the Government for keeping its promise of providing laptops to all the trained officers, while pledging their readiness to transfer the knowledge gained to other teachers and learners.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
