168,843 pupils jostle for admission into Lagos secondary schools – LSUBEB chair

LAGOS State government disclosed that 168,843 pupils from both the private and the publicly- owned primary schools across the state took part in this year’s Primary 6 Placement Test into Junior Secondary School 1 in the state, which took place at the weekend.

Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), Dr Ganiyu Sopeyin, who monitored the exercise, made this disclosure, describing the test, which took place in 255 designated centres across the state, as one of the best ever recorded by the state.

This was just as he reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing qualitative and quantitative education in a conducive atmosphere had led Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to approving the employment of an additional 1,000 teachers for the state secondary schools.

Speaking on the exercise, Sopeyin stated that question papers and answer scripts known as OMR sheets as well as officials got to their respective centres ahead of time, pointing out that the exercise was successful, largely because the state government carefully planned for it, taking into consideration LSUBEB’s past experiences.

Sopeyin noted that despite the state government earlier announcement of the time and date of the commencement of the exercise, some students came to the exams centres late while some others who were not registered for the exams also reported for it in some centres.

He, however, said despite of the challenges, “All the minor hitches were immediately addressed peacefully without harassment or molestation.”

This was just as he attributed the upsurge to the renewed confidence and the improved standard of public education in the state.

Speaking further, the LSUBEB chairman explained that the employment of additional 1,000 teachers into the state owned secondary schools would complement the existing workforce in the state owned secondary schools to take care of the upsurge recorded in placement test.

He gave God the glory for the smooth conduct of the tests and thanked the state governor, Mr Ambode, for providing the wherewithal for the smooth conduct of the tests in the interest of the pupils

Dr Sopeyin also gave kudos to all the state government officials that ensured that the tests was conducted hitch free scoring the state 90 per cent in the conduct of the test.

It would be recalled that about 140,000 pupils sat for similar test in about 160 designated centres across the state last year.