The Ondo State government has introduced advanced technology to precisely monitor and manage the enrollment of students and the workforce of teachers across both public and private educational institutions.
This initiative is designed to also track students’ academic progress throughout each academic year.
Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, revealed this development during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Monday.
He highlighted the government’s commitment to restoring discipline within schools, enhancing educational standards, and addressing related challenges.
As part of these reforms, the ministry has begun distributing Identity Cards to students in public schools, with plans to extend this to pupils in private schools shortly.
Ajibefun explained that these ongoing educational reforms aim to rejuvenate the sector across the state.
The newly implemented digital platform will enable the tracking of student movements across all schools, helping to curb fraudulent activities.
“We are leveraging technology to support our efforts. The Ministry of Education’s digital portal is now fully operational,” he stated.
“We intend to transition most of our administrative and monitoring functions onto this portal.”
“Through this digital system, we will oversee school operations comprehensively once it is officially launched.”
“Without integrating technology, reinstating discipline in schools would be a daunting task, but the digital portal equips us to achieve this effectively.”
“For example, we are scrutinizing private schools, especially those that lack official approval.”
“The government places great importance on private schools due to their significant influence. Positive contributions from these schools benefit society as a whole,” Ajibefun noted.
“Conversely, any negative impact from these institutions could undermine government efforts, considering they serve a large portion of the student population.”
The Commissioner underscored the critical role of private schools and the necessity to uphold high standards and quality within the sector.
“Ensuring quality education is vital because substandard schooling affects the majority of our children adversely.”
“This is why all schools in Ondo State will be integrated into our digital portal for continuous monitoring.”
“We have established minimum criteria for school registration and approval, and we will conduct thorough inspections to verify compliance and operational standards,” Ajibefun added.
He further mentioned that numerous private schools will undergo reassessment to evaluate their learning environments, safety measures, teacher-to-student ratios, and other essential factors.
