Osun State Resumes Distribution Of ‘ Opon Imo’ In Public Schools
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
said on Friday that his administration would not
be deterred in its resolve to take education in
the state to greater heights.
He stated this in Ede during the second phase of
the flag-off and distribution of tablets of
knowledge across public secondary schools in the
state.
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
said on Friday that his administration would not
be deterred in its resolve to take education in
the state to greater heights.
He stated this in Ede during the second phase of
the flag-off and distribution of tablets of
knowledge across public secondary schools in the
state.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Education, Lawrence Oyeniran, the
governor described the intervention of the e-
stand-alone tablet of knowledge as a
fundamental breakthrough in education in the
state.
According to Aregbesola, “Opon Imo” is a serious
achievement by his administration in education
intervention and innovation that has received
various commendations globally.
He explained that his government came up with
this innovation to ensure better improvement in
both internal and external examinations which he
said had suffered serious setback before his
assumption of office.
Mr. Aregbesola stated that the distribution of
the computer device would cut across SSS 3
students in all public schools in the state.
“We are here at Adventist High School, Ede, to
kick off the distribution of Tablets of Knowledge
known as ‘Opon Imo’ to all the high school
students across the state of Osun.
“The tablets of knowledge which is acknowledged
both nationally and internationally is a tablet
that makes teaching and learning easier in our
state.
“We request our students to make good and
judicious use of it because it is a great
opportunity for them to have a computer based
tablets of knowledge to assist their learning
technique.
“Aside from that, both principal and subject
teachers should be enjoined to ensure that they
give the desired guidance to the students on the
proper use of Opon Imo in the sense that whoever
for any reason among the beneficiaries
(students) misapply its uses, it will attract
N50,000 fine and this is backed up by legislation
of the Osun State House of Assembly.
“The distribution will go round the entire three
senatorial districts of Osun State”, he said.
Responding to questions on why the first
distributed Tablets of Knowledge were retrieved
from the students, Gov. Aregbesola said it was
done to upgrade, repackage and give those
students promoted to SSS 3 class the equal
opportunity to use the e-learning device.
“After a session, we retrieved those materials for
upgrading, repackaging and repair because it
was obvious that some of these materials might
have been damaged by the beneficiaries since
they are not meant for keep by the students.
“In as much as it is a tablet that is meant for
generation yet unborn, there is need for both
government and the students to see it as a
valuable assets needed to be carefully preserved
and protected.
“Its use is mainly for students who are
successfully promoted to SSS 3 class and these
electronic device would be used for West African
Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE),
National Examination Council Examination
(NECO), and Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination (UTME)”.
On the significant impact of Opon Imo since its
introduction, Governor Aregbesola said since the
advent of the electronic gadgets, the
performance of students across the state had
tremendously improved in terms of results and
academic prizes.
He said, “When you look at the status of our
education in terms of our students WAEC results,
academic accolades and performances in the past
before the advent of ‘Opon Imo’ by juxtaposing
it with the current situation in the education
sector, there is no doubt in the fact that we
have improved geometrically and purposefully.
“Our landmark achievements in education has
been manifested in the quality of public school
products.
“Spontaneous development has been recorded
since the intervention of this technological
initiative of our administration as our students
results have improved through the academic tools
being given to them, while their performances
have been on the increase”.
The governor used the opportunity to charge the
school principals of all the public schools in the
state to convene meetings and interactive
sections with parents on the need to assist their
wards to properly protect and preserve the device
given to them.
Mr. Aregbesola added, “There is need for parents
of our students to be properly oriented and
enlightened on the carefully use of the Opon Imo
because some students are very careless to the
extent that they may misapply or misuse the
device outside what it was meant for.
“The era whereby students can just misapply the
opportunity given to them through tablets of
knowledge has gone because there is a law
enacted by the State House of Assembly
prohibiting such act and whoever breaches it
would face the consequences.
“Therefore, our parents must be properly
schooled and enlightened on the good maintenance
of this device. They must be guided on its better
uses as they are expected to take it as an
essential commodity, because it is not for
students to keep, they will use it and pass it on
to those behind them after graduation”.
