The Ondo State Government has commenced the digitalisation of secondary education, with teachers and students across the state already undergoing training as part of efforts to modernise the education sector.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, disclosed this on Friday in Akure during the grand finale of the fourth edition of the Digital Quiz Competition for secondary schools.
The competition was organised by the state government in partnership with Information and Communication Technology firm, Quickens Computer Limited.
Ajibefun said the state was making significant investments in digital education, adding that a large number of teachers had already been trained and would, in turn, pass the knowledge on to their students.
He noted that the programme is ongoing and forms part of preparations for the full digital transformation of the state’s education system.
“The state government is investing heavily in digital education, with the training of our teachers and students in preparation for the digitalisation of our education system. The training is a continuous process.
“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. It started last year, and it will continue.
“For the students, when you train the teachers, indirectly you are training the students because the teachers will return to train them,” he said.
Ajibefun also revealed that no fewer than 50 public secondary schools had received computer equipment through one of the state’s technical partners.
“Digital equipment has been supplied to our educational institutions, particularly secondary schools. 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 stated.
Speaking on the purpose of the Digital Quiz Competition, the commissioner said the initiative was introduced to promote digital literacy, encourage academic excellence and equip students with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven world.
“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 recognise 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,” he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Akindele Ige, described the competition as a platform for developing students’ digital skills and critical thinking.
“The Ondo State 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,” he said.
Participating schools included Fiwasaye Girls’ Secondary School, Akure; Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure; Greater Tomorrow Secondary School, Arigidi Akoko, and several other secondary schools across the state.