All Oyo schools to have computers in 5 years —Govt

The Oyo State Government has struck a partnership with Microsoft and Signal Alliance towards ensuring that each of the 2,375 primary schools and 678 secondary schools in the state has a good number of computer sets.

Akin-Alabi speaking at State Secretariat, Ibadan, on Wednesday, said School Governing Boards of all schools of the state are expected to provide venues for the siting of the digital learning centres where students and teachers will be imbued with requisite Information and Communication Technology skills.

The collaboration targeted at engendering digital literacy in the state will, according to Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Education, Science and Technology, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, kick off with the launch of eight cluster learning centres.

She explained that four centres will be sited in Ibadan, two in Oke Ogun, one in Ibarapa and another on the Oyo-Ogbomoso axis, starting with three of the cluster learning centres funded by the state and others by the partners.

Furthermore, she said each of the cluster centres will contain computers for 100 students.

She added that state, through the collaboration, had shown its commitment to utilising technology to drive economic growth and facilitate a knowledge-based future.

“In five years, every school in the state will have their computers. We are starting with eight cluster learning centres of 100 computers each. We will start by funding three of the cluster centres and our partners will fund other centres. We are also talking with our school governing boards to sign in their schools and provide venues/halls for digital learning centres,” Akin Alabi said.

Speaking, Commissioner for the ministry, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, said the state had developed academic lecture notes in core subjects, in PDF format, among other learning resources that could be accessed at the cluster learning centres.

In her remarks, head of Microsoft Education Programs, Jordan Belmonte said the digital learning initiative aimed at helping to bridge the skills gap by providing teachers ICT and the framework that will enable pupils and educators achieve success.

Mrs Adanma Onuegbu of Signal Alliance noted the imperativeness for people to be equipped technologically to be up to speed with trends in today’s information age.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun, Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Aderonke Makanjuola among others were also present at the interaction with journalists.