Osun State Resumes Distribution Of ‘ Opon Imo’ In Public Schools

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”.