The Oyo State Government is now set to revolutionize the education sector with the introduction of e-learning system that encourages a highly technical and interactive system and unifies teaching, learning and educational management in an efficient and seamless manner.
This was made known yesterday by the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, while on a visit to Wesley College of Science, Ibadan where the process of the revolution was demonstrated.
The e-learning demonstration was performed by one of the teachers of the school, Mr. Omololu Oyelakin, with the active participation of the students of the school, the governor and members of the state executive council.
The e-learning system, which presents a new state-of-the-art teaching and learning method, is expected to enhance interaction between student and students, students and teachers, teachers and teachers as well as school administrators and the state Ministry of Education.
The new educational system is also expected to be established in two primary schools and two secondary schools in each of the 33 local government areas of the state, thus making a total of 132 schools.
The e-learning system is the first of its kind in the history of the state.
Speaking shortly after witnessing the demonstration of the e-learning system, Governor Ajimobi said that the development was the aftermath of his trip to different provinces in China in 2013 during which he opened discussion with Potavio Group, a leading ICT company in the country.
Potavio Group is the facilitator of the e-learning project.
“The introduction of e-learning system, the first in the history of this state, is a story of determination, a story of courage and commitment to have the best in Oyo State; it is a story of change for improvement and empowerment, and a commitment to having a knowledge-based society because your knowledge determines what you become in life,’’ he said.
According to the governor, the programme will enhance effective teaching and learning process which will eventually improve the performance of students, particularly in public examinations.
He described Nigeria as the eighth largest user of computer system in the world, with 56 million people using electronics, 45 per cent of whom were students.
Governor Ajimobi, who expressed happiness with the formal take-off of the e-learning system, said that it would provide visual and audio materials as teaching aids that would facilitate full participation of students in teaching process and make them computer literate.
He advised the students in the state to avail themselves of the opportunity offered by the e-learning programme as it would help them substantially in the quality of the education they would be receiving and enhance their all-round development.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Solomon Olaniyonu, said that the system would prepare them for the computer-based examinations being introduced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Also speaking, the representative of Potavio Group, Cheryl Lee, assured the state government that the partnership with her firm would be rewarding, as world class facilities would be provided for the e-learning system.