The 'Tablet of Knowledge,' Opon Imo, Osun State's effort at democratising access to learning, was yesterday launched in Ijebu-Jesa, with the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, assuring students and people of the state that 150, 000 students from the Senior Secondary School, SSS, will get the tablet free of charge.
Speaking at the programme, Governor Aregbesola said the present administration embarked on the project to build a knowledge-based society and a digital-driven economy, all aimed at building human capacity to gain competitive advantage like in other developed nations of the world. He said; "The Tablet of Knowledge is a standalone e-learning tablet that provides high school students with the contents required to prepare for school leaving certificate examinations.
It provides three major content categories – textbooks, tutorials and practice questions," "150, 000 of these tablets are being distributed to all high school students across the state in a move that is expected to radically democratise access to learning, regardless of means, location or status. "Consequently, the initiative seeks to bring the school closer to the student and serve as a silver bullet to the learning challenges facing our continent.
It is one of Osun's multi-pronged efforts at reforming education." The governor further stressed that 'Opon Imo' delivers compelling self-placed stand-alone courses, conducted in a highly interactive computer- based learning environment and synchronised to a library of relevant e-books and a computerbased testing environment.
'Opon-Imo' is a first of its kind initiative in Nigeria, Africa and arguably the world, which tackles the learning problem using contemporary ICTS, indigenous content and taking into account socially embedded factors accordingly."
The governor stressed further that the tablet was a portable electronic device, which is controlled through its touch screen interface and is available across the open source Android Operating system saying; "It is an electronic device, first of its kind mobile learning tool that students can use in multiple locations, at home, in school and any other location.
"Other things that make 'Opon Imo' ground breaking, according to him were stand-alone customised content which works regardless at data networks, making it suitable for developing countries with unreliable networks.
"Indigenous and customised contents like multimedia content that has 56 tutorials and e-textbooks covering 17 subjects, over 40, 000 practice questions and answers, seven extracurricular books are available on the device.
"Opon Imo' can track academic progress of the student, has an independent powering communal solar charging systems, are installed in the schools for convenience and the device can also be powered by electricity at home."
Governor Aregbesola said the device will save the state government an estimated N8.4 billion ($53 million) annually in textbook procurement.
National Mirror
Education is a very important aspect of any state so I must appreciate the effort of those in authority for noting this as well.