…reintegrates 30,000 out-of-school children
The Lagos State Government has revealed that it paid a total of ₦1,577,794,000 to cover examination fees for 58,188 students who sat for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), as part of its free education programme.
The State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
The commissioner explained that biometric capture and image registration were conducted to ensure accountability and prevent wastage, resulting in 56,134 students being registered as bona fide beneficiaries of government sponsorship. He noted, however, that despite the massive investment, only 45.7% of candidates passed both English Language and Mathematics in the 2024 WASSCE.
Alli-Balogun said the development prompted the state government to intensify efforts to boost academic performance and reform the system, leading to the launch of the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates in January 2025.
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According to him, the initiative aims to equip students with academic tools, motivation, and structured support for better outcomes. He emphasised that strategic meetings with school principals across all six education districts had led to new policies.
He listed the new policies to include the exclusive promotion of high-performing students to terminal classes, stating that such a move was designed to curb mass promotion and encourage academic excellence.
“We believe this strategy will elevate education standards in the state, motivate students to strive harder, and improve academic outcomes,” he said.
On out-of-school children, the commissioner disclosed that a total of 30,000 children had been kitted and reintegrated into public schools across the state, in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda’s focus on Education and Technology.
Alli-Balogun, while affirming that education remains the government’s priority as the foundation for societal development, said this effort was aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children and the attendant menace.
“This effort is aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children and the attendant menace,” he said.
Speaking further, the commissioner said that in addressing teachers’ welfare and capacity building, the state government recruited 4,353 teachers between 2023 and 2024. These were deployed across education districts and vocational centres. He added that a total of ₦102.5 million was approved by Governor Sanwo-Olu for teacher housing loans, covering both backlogs and new beneficiaries, with ₦43.5 million disbursed to 121 officers as car refurbishment loans.
Alli-Balogun cautioned students to steer clear of social vices such as drug abuse, cultism, gang activities, and examination malpractice, urging them to channel their energy into co-curricular activities supported by the ministry and NGOs.
The commissioner added that the reactivation of sports, physical and health education, and hands-on interactive learning methods by the state government was intended to improve student engagement, mental discipline, and holistic development.
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