Oyo State Government says it will soon launch its digital literacy drive and cluster learning centres to improve pupils’ access to qualitative education.
Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, the Special Adviser to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi on Education, made the assertion on Wednesday at a news conference in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative is one of the programmes evolved by the Ajimobi-led administration to improve education standard in the state.
The state government had in the past introduced the School Governing Board model of school management and Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) which recorded successes.
Akin-Alabi said that the programme to be driven on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) was targeted at ensuring that all schools in the state have computers in five years.
“The state government is collaborating with Microsoft and Signal Alliance on a flagship programme to be driven by `OYOMESI`.
“We are collaborating with Microsoft through the Microsoft Imagine Academy to use technology to create a participative, transparent and responsive learning environment,’’ she said.
Akin-Alabi said that the effort was aimed at preparing the state for a knowledge-based future and making it the hub for producing knowledgeable competent workforce in Nigeria.
“We are starting with eight cluster centres, out of which four are from Ibadan, two in Oke-Ogun, one in Ibarapa and one in Oyo-Ogbomoso axis.
“Each of the cluster centres will be equipped with 100 computer sets and digital library to accommodate 100 pupils at a time,’’ she said.
Also, Miss Jordan Belmonte, the Head, Microsoft Education Programmes, said that the Microsoft Imagine Academy was a 21st century skills enabling programme that would benefit students, teachers and surrounding communities.
Belmonte said that this was done by providing schools with access to a vast e-learning platform and affordable professional certifications.
“We believe that investment in education is a critical component of preparing youth for global workforce and is directly tied to a country’s economic growth.
“Our mission is to ensure that we support this advancement in learning and the benefits it provides for Nigerian students.
“Microsoft Nigeria is committed to promoting lifelong learning by providing affordable access to education solutions and promoting the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools,’’ she said.
In her remarks, Mrs Adama Onuegbu, a representative of Signal Alliance, said that the programme would help to equip graduates on ICT to make them employable.
Also, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, said that the state has no better option than to adopt the use of technology through digital literacy programmes.
Olowofela said that academic lecture notes tagged “Ajumose Note’’ had been developed in core subjects.
According to him, they will be made available as PDF for pupils to access at cluster learning centres.