EDUCATION: Opon Imo Will Integrate Osun Students Into Our Technologically Driven Society, Aregbesola

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Friday said that the introduction of the Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) is among others to ensure that all public school students in the state are integrated into the technologically driven and knowledge-based society.
The governor who was represented by Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, stated this while flagging off the distribution of Tablet of Knowledge to teachers in Ijesa zone at Ilesa High School, in Ilesa. The deputy governor explained that the distribution of Tablet of knowledge was to enhance teaching and learning in public schools as well to reduce the financial burden on parents in buying textbooks for their wards in various public schools.
While appealing to the teachers to embrace the new innovation for their benefit and the students, she noted that the tablet of knowledge has been recognised as one of the four best learning tools in the world.
According to her, “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to students to take the best advantage of this innovation by government to be at their best so as to make the government and their parents proud and happy by coming out in flying colours in their examinations.
“This is also an opportunity to appeal to parents and stakeholders to be patient with government on its re classification exercise. This is an innovation by government with the sole aim of improving the standard of education in the state.” The deputy governor stressed. Madam Laoye-Tomori however, commended the teachers for their support for the present administration’s education policy.
Earlier in his address, the Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, Osun East Education District office, Mr. Kola Buari noted that the present administration under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola has taken education to a world class standard where students can conveniently compete with their peers across the globe.
Mr. Buari advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of the Tablet of Knowledge and guide it jealously against damage and theft.
He said, “No government in Osun had it this good like what we are experiencing. It is on this note that I advise beneficiaries to take advantage of this world class innovation to improve their lots in admission to higher institutions of learning in Nigeria and beyond.” The Tutor-General appealed.
Speaking with journalists at the event, the Project Management Officer, Mr. Oyekunle Odelola, said the distribution of Opon Imo to all students in Grade Twelve would have been completed by the first week of December, 2013 as directed by the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
According to Mr. Odelola, students in Grade Ten and Eleven would get their tablets in another phase of the distribution exercise.
Mrs. Kikelomo Akande, a teacher who also spoke to journalists at the occasion described the gesture as first of its kind in the history of education in the country saying it would enhance effective teaching and learning.
She held that teachers in Osun will use the Tablets of Knowledge judiciously to achieve desired objectives of the present administration in the state.
Mrs. Akande said that, “The re-classification exercise has removed the financial burden of education completely from parents through provision of modern facilities, furniture and improved funding; to democratize education and provide equal opportunities for pupils without discrimination.
“This single action will make public schools comparable to the private schools in terms of facilities and to reduce pupils/students to teacher ratio from the current abnormal rate of 60-100 students to a teacher to the UNESCO standard.” She said.