Speaking during a ministerial press briefing marking the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, said the subpar results do not reflect the substantial investments made by the state in education. He was joined by key government officials, including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho (represented by Permanent Secretary Mr. Olumide Sogunle), the SSA on Media, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, and top officials from SUBEB, LASTVEB, and TESCOM.
Alli-Balogun noted that only about 47% of students who took the WASSCE last year passed five core subjects, including English and Mathematics, despite the government’s significant financial input—most notably the N1.58 billion paid to WAEC for the registration of 58,188 students in 2023. This year, 56,134 students have been registered at the state’s expense.
“This outcome is unacceptable, especially given the state’s policy of free education and the resources allocated annually,” the commissioner stated. “We must hold our school leadership and students accountable for better results.”
In response, the government has introduced a series of reformative measures aimed at improving academic standards:
- Strict Promotion Criteria: Only academically capable SS2 students will now advance to SS3 and be registered for WAEC exams, eliminating the previous practice of automatic promotion.
- Teaching Responsibilities for School Leaders: Principals and vice principals will now be required to teach six and eight periods per week, respectively, in addition to their administrative roles.
- Quality Assurance and Accountability: The Office of Education Quality Assurance has been tasked with monitoring and reporting misconduct such as truancy, absenteeism, harassment, and neglect of duty among teachers and staff.
- Revival of Extracurricular Activities: Schools have been directed to revive clubs and events like debates, quizzes, sports, and arts to foster intellectual growth and physical development.
Alli-Balogun stressed that these initiatives are intended to inspire healthy competition, boost student morale, and enhance overall academic performance.
Highlighting achievements under the current administration, the commissioner noted that 17 new schools have been established (two primary, 10 junior, and five senior secondary), and 242 new private schools have received provisional licences. Infrastructure upgrades across the state include new and renovated classrooms, staff rooms, libraries, laboratories, ICT facilities, and sanitation amenities. Additionally, over 4,350 teachers have been recruited to improve instructional quality.
He reaffirmed that Governor Sanwo-Olu remains firmly committed to providing quality, globally competitive education to every child in Lagos, believing that access to solid education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and ignorance.
“The future of Lagos lies in the quality of minds we are grooming today. No child should be left behind,” Alli-Balogun concluded.