Edo state to introduce ICT in primary schools

Pupils will be given training in ICT

The Edo Government is to introduce Information Communication Technology, ICT, in public primary schools in the state as part of efforts to change the face of primary education, the State Universal Basic Education Board said.

Chairman of the board, Stephen Alao, said told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the initiative was aimed at exposing pupils in their formative years to the world best practices in basic education. Mr Alao said the state government was very passionate about sound basic education.

The chairman appealed to the people to be patient with the government, saying it cannot provide all their needs at a time. “There is no reason why all public primary schools in the state will not have ICT since government is determined to give qualitative education to the people,” he said.

Mr Alao said the state government was also improving the quality of teachers in the state by training and re-training them. “If we have well-modelled schools without well tutored students, of course, we are not going anywhere,” he said. He said that the board was worried about rejection of postings to the rural areas by some teachers.

The SUBEB boss said schools with too many teachers would be decongested as surplus teachers would posted to other schools. The issue had been a major challenge to the board and posting will not be done to favour any particular local government area, he promised. On over-population in classes, the boord chairman said something would be done speedily.

Mr Alao also said that the present administration had improved school infrastructure, but noted that some schools had yet to be renovated. According to him, such schools will be captured in the state’s 2014 budget. He, however, appealed to the authorities of the schools that had already been renovated or upgraded to take good care of the facilities.

(NAN).