(http://www.theinfostride.com/images/resized/images/laptop%202_200_300.jpg) (http://www.theinfostride.com/images/laptop%202.jpg)
Cross River State has flagged-off the Teachers' Laptop Computer Distribution in the E-learning and Digital Literacy Programme with the presentation of 10,000 computers to teachers across the state.
Speaking while presenting the computers at West African People's Institute (WAPI) Calabar, the state Acting Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, said that it is the state's quest to transform its educational system and bequeath a worthy legacy to posterity as well as achieve a service economy.
Cobham reasoned that the gesture was borne out of its desire to belong to the League of Nations that have done it right in education revolution and transformation because any nation that neglects education will remain perpetually underdeveloped.
The Acting Governor disclosed that is because of the high premium which the state places on education that a great part of its budget is allocated it.
He disclosed that to become a leading Nigerian state will remain a mirage and elusive if it does not recognize and accord education a top priority and that is why since the inception of the present administration in 2007, it made it unequivocally clear that for it to join the league of educationally advanced states, it must provide an enabling environment to enhance proper learning and teaching.
According to him, "armed with resolution, we plunged into comprehensive renovation of schools where the 60 secondary schools in Phase 1 were renovated and brought to a standard where conducive environment can actually be said to have created for teaching and learning to take place".
He explained that four laboratories for the basic sciences, namely, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Computer science have been equipped with state-of –the-art equipment in all the schools while the processes for the award of contract for the second phase comprising additional 41 schools have commenced.
The Acting Governor maintained that to ensure effective learning and teaching in schools will only be complete if the state adopts the global practice of using technology to drive education and best way to start is to begin with the teachers who are the drivers of the system.
Cobham said this informed the conception and implementation of the Teachers Computer Acquisition Programme(T-CAP), adding that it is hoped that if teachers acquire their personal computers and are trained on their use alongside the educational software installed into them, teaching and learning will be made easier.
He explained that 'to show that the state in committed to the total transformation of the education sector and deployment of technology to drive the system, we have entered into a MoU with Educomp solution Limited for the purpose of introducing e-learning in our schools".
Commissioner for Education, Prof Offiong E. Offiong, noted that teachers occupy a very prominent position in their vital role as moulders of the children who are the leaders of tomorrow and as the drivers of the digital literacy in the school system, it becomes imperative for the teachers to first be made to acquire ICT skill and then step down same to the children in schools.
Offiong said the laptops, though personal are meant to facilitate their acquisition of ICT skills for their benefit as individuals and that of the school system.
He remarked that all the schools have been grouped into 48 clusters for the purpose of distributing the laptops across the state while training on the use of the laptops will commence in about two weeks' time and will run in phases.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anne Odey, in her welcome address, said it has been the desire of the state to deploy technology to enhance teaching and learning in the stae and it cannot be achieved without starting from the schools, who are expected to drive the e-learning in the school system.
Odey said in order to put the cart before the horse, it became apparent that to achive the vision, the teachers are not only to be computer literate, but they should have their own computers.
A representative of IT and C (T-CAP Vendor),Mr. Namdi Nworoka, said he was proud to be part of the history making event as Cross River has become the first state in Nigeria to flag-off the teachers' laptop computer distribution in the E-learning and Digital Literacy Programme.
Nworoka noted that by doing so the education position of the state will be upgraded to an enviable position of a pioneer.
The Project Management Officer (PMO) of the T-CAP Project, Mr. Chinenye Mba Uzoukwu, stated that by that development, the entire state will provide a new brand of leadership to move the country forward.
Uzoukwu disclosed that each of the laptops has a variety of over 300 subjects to enable the teachers teach their students as well as enrich them, adding that all are connected to internet and are installed with Anti-Virus.
Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke with our correspondent appreciated the state government in its effort to empower them as well as using them as components of its developmental programme.
They promised to use the laptops for the purpose which they are meant for.
Via: Cross River State Government - Official Press Release