School Owner Canvasses ICT Inclusion in Education

Funmi Ogundare

The founder of City of Knowledge Academy, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Mrs. Mosunmola Bello-Olusoga has stressed the need for schools to embrace ICT in their teaching and learning so that students can achieve their potential and become the best they can be in life.

Bello-Olusoga, who made this known recently at the first primary school ICT competition, which saw Supreme Education Foundation, Magodo, Lagos emerge first position, said schools must make available computers for students’ use and they must be aware of its positive and negative effects.

“They have to be sure that the sites their children visit are not where they don’t want them to access, so monitoring the site is very important. Our students have laptop computers and all the lessons and education facilitates are there but we are particular about some sites which they are not allowed to go to. Once you attempt going there, it buzzes and the students are reprimanded.”

She expressed delight about the outcome of the competition, saying, “it is the first and it is a learning process, but so far so good. I think next year, it is going to be a lot better and bigger. In terms of organisation, it is going to be better and prizes are going to be bigger. Life is all about continuous improvement. I am happy about the participation and the children are also happy. The sky is the limit for the pupils.”

She said she is encouraged by the fact that most schools have started adopting ICT in their teaching and learning, adding, “we believe that life is a competition, we want to prove that it could be a lot better. In the robotics competition that CKA participated in last year, the students came first, second and fifth, it is about catching them young.”

The founder said she believes that digitization is the future of the world, adding that her school is passionate about ICT. “We won all the competitions that we put in for, so anybody who does not know how to use computers to get information and enable business thrive will not go far. So once the primary school pupils know about digitization, it makes it easier for them when they get into secondary school.”

The competition, which was in two categories: practical and quiz, was designed to enable the pupils communicate effectively using technology. Supreme Education Foundation defeated 15 others schools with 39,853 points. County Crest School, Ogun State came second with 27,937 points, while Salvation International School, Ikeja came third with 25,607 points.

The winners received a laptop computer, IPad and Play Station four, respectively for the first, second and third positions, while certificates of participation were presented to all participating schools.

The winning school, represented by the trio of Miss Sharon Bamidele, Miss Folayemi Oladunni and Master Henry Lotana expressed delight about their success, saying that they won because they were determined and did their best.

“We practiced a lot and sacrificed our after-school to practice for the competition, which paid off. We spent one hour and 30 minutes practicing ICT. We were a bit nervous and scared, but we believed in ourselves that we can do it.”