In its bid to improve the standard of education in the state and to make education accessible to all, the Ekiti State Government has taken delivery of specialized computer sets and instructional materials for the special schools in the State.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Dr. Eniola Ajayi made this known in Ado while addressing journalists. Some of the Materials unveiled include Braille keyboards, scanner machines, web chess, thermo machines, Braille machines desktop computers, software for the visually impaired, Braille printers: projectors and tactile textbooks all specially designed for blind, deaf and dumb students.
The Commissioner who disclosed that over 16 million naira was spent on procuring the gadgets added that Ekiti State Government was the first in the federation to acquire such materials for the children in its special schools.
Dr, Ajayi who also said that computer education has been made compulsory by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for all students in Nigerian Secondary schools also stressed the determination of the state government to ensure that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is well entrenched in Ekiti Schools to enable the students meet up with the national standard and to compete favorably with their counterparts in other states.
The Commissioner also announced that the Ekiti State Government has entered into a partnership with Samsung Group on the supply of solar powered laptops to students.
Dr. Ajayi who displayed a prototype of the solar powered laptop said the laptop has being designed with a solar panel fitted at the back and added that their solar battery if fully charged has a battery life of 14hours and described the laptop as being ideal for the students
due to the situation of power supply in the country. She announced that the government has taken delivery of over 7000 pieces of the solar powered laptops for the students and over 18,000 pieces of laptops for the teachers in its public schools.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Honorable Funminiyi who was present at the occasion described the acquisition of the equipment as the fulfillment of the promise made by the State Government Dr. Kayode Fayemi that education will be made available and accessible to all in the State. He also gave the assurance at that the State government will not relent in its efforts at repositioning the education sector in the
State.
In his remark the Consultant to the State Government on the project Dr. Ikechukwu Nwakuche, a rehabilitation optometrist described the equipment as state of the art and gave a practical demonstration on them.
Dr. Nwakuche who is presently the National President of Nigerian Optometric Association expressed appreciation to Governor Fayemi for his passion for education and gave the assurance that adequate training will be provided for the teachers in the special schools on
the use of the gadgets so as to ensure effective service delivery.
Last modified: March 14, 2012