Osun’s ‘Opon Imo’ Tackles Educational Woes

Osun State government has come up with ‘Opon Imo’ ideology, which is ‘Tablet of Knowledge’, to aid students’ preparation for internal and external examinations, in line with best global practices.

According to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State’s Governor, the computer tablets are preloaded with lesson notes on 17 subjects offered by students in the WASSCE and NECO (SSCE) respectively and contains six extra-curricular subjects including sexuality education, entrepreurship, Civic, Computer Education, Yoruba History, and Traditional Religion.

The Governor who was represented by Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori, the deputy governor, said the fit would affords students unfettered access to textbooks, makes teaching and learning exciting to teachers and students and has practice questions in the text zone and past questions  and revision notes for 10 years.

The Deputy who doubles as the State Commissioner for Education added that the present administration in the State inherited an educational system in abysmal state.

“On assumption of office of the Aregbesola administration public schools educational system had collapsed and was at the lowest level; school infrastructure had collapsed, the buildings were dilapidated and students’ performance in examinations was abysmal as only 3% was “matriculable’.

“School fees were prohibitive in tertiary institutions, with grants insufficient to schools for basic education, bursary was not realistic, and elementary school pupils were malnourished and poorly dressed for school, demoralized and uninspired staff”.

In view of the deplorable state of educational sector in the State, Tomori noted that The State Government convened an Education Summit in February 2011, where the findings, reports and recommendations of the Summit have since become the education road map for the State.

‘Opon Imo’ ideology is an offshoot of the Summit. Under the scheme, Osun State Government plans to unleash 150,000 Copies of Opon Imo, teachers would receive their copies, there are 63 text books in the e- library, revision notes for ten years, a mock test center and an MOU already signed with the Chinese manufacturer for the establishment of the production factory in the State of Osun.

The Computer tablet is solar powered. Power outage should not hinder academic endeavours.

It is easy to carry, could be used anywhere and at any time. This system of learning has improved academic performance in developed countries. Computer Tablets is produced for high school students. Virtual learning Center pre-loaded with lesson notes for SS I-III. The teacher in the virtual classroom introduces the subject for the Day.

She added that the State’s New School System is now structured into Elementary, Middle and High Schools. The Elementary school comprise of pupils between the ages of 6-9 years, with daily academic activities would span 8am – 2pm. “This categorization is currently known as Primary 1-4 and would henceforth be known as Grades 1-4. There are Infrastructural Facilities designed to accommodate 900 pupils and 10 Elementary Schools would be delivered by the end of July.

“The middle school is made of pupils between the age ranges of 10-14 years, whose daily academics activities is between 8am – 3.00pm. This categorization is currently known as Pry. 5, 6, JSS 1, 2 and 3. They would henceforth be referred to as  Grades 5-9 and an example of a middle school has been built at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, ready for commissioning,” she said.

Others in the high school who are to benefit from the ‘Opon Imo’ are students in the age range of 15 and 17. This category is currently known as SSI- SSIII and would hence forth be known as Grades 10 -12. The Infrastructural facilities designed to accommodate 3000 with facilities like libraries, food court, football pitch, laboratories &examination Halls

“The new system aims at exposing pupils/students to modern facilities in form of standard classrooms, boarding facilities, libraries, science/ ICT Facilities,” the State Commissioner for Education noted.

Meanwhile, the State Government said it is spending millions of naira to provide enabling educational system comprising of feeding, uniform, provision of infrastructure, among other developmental agenda.