Osun State government has launched Smart ID Card with biometric features for all public school pupils.
The launch, at the Salvation Army School, Alekuwodo, Oshogbo, underscores the commitment of the state to use technology to improve planning, allocation of resources and service delivery in education.
The Smart ID Card, produced by Chams, is linked back to a central database which provides accurate and reliable data on the identity and number of students attending state schools.
Launching the project, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, noted that in the history of human inventions, there are not too many that are as useful as technology in terms of efficiency and effectiveness at providing solutions to human problems.
“This is the reason why the government of the state of Osun adopted and is deploying technology as the solution to the legacy of inefficiency bequeathed to the civil service by past inept leaders.
“The Smart ID Card, which is embedded with biometric features, is also an ingenious technology solution that we have adopted to further raise the service delivery levels in the education sector,” he added.
With the card, each pupil remains a unique and identifiable individual who cannot be mistaken for another person.
“Effortlessly, the government can identify all students in public schools, and have access to their information at the push of a button.
“It improves the effectiveness of life enriching programmes such as the O’Meals, O’Schools and Opon Imo, among other innovations put in place for the welfare of students.”
The card makes tracking possible, to facilitate accurate information on the number of beneficiaries, which eliminates fraud and accounting error.
Deputy Governor, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori
Deputy Governor, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, who doubles as Education Commissioner, said the scheme is a significant milestone for the state because without accurate data, complete transformation of education may remain elusive.
“Issuance of smart identity cards to all public school students will ensure that we have accurate data for use in updating our education strategy and sustain our pragmatic work-plan to ensure overall policy success.”
“In no small measure, the smart identity card will also ensure accountability to government by students of public school as it makes it possible for schools to track attendance,” she stressed.
Chams Managing Director, Demola Aladekomo, disclosed that the card provides biographical and biometric identification of public school children from elementary school to middle school and high school, ensuring reliable demographic data of the student population.