Lagos invests over N11bn to improve infrastructure in schools

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, said on Monday that over N11.5billion has been spent on improving infrastructure in schools across state, even as she disclosed that over 2,000 teachers were employed to cater for some vacancies in primary and secondary education in the state.

Dr. Adebule, who oversees the Ministry, spoke at the 2017 ministerial press briefing of the Ministry of Education, Adebule, saying that about 79 public schools were renovated, 16 schools fenced, while six new classroom blocks were constructed.

According to the deputy governor, 707 double-bunk beds and 469 mattresses were supplied to boarding schools, among other projects executed.

“The revolution in the education sector especially our goal of providing conducive teaching and learning environment by making available adequate educational facilities in our schools is being pursued with renewed vigour,” she said.

Adebule said it was in line with that objective that the state government had commenced the construction of three new world class model block of classrooms in public secondary schools to improve learning and teaching, adding that the state government would start the construction of two new technical colleges before the end of the year.

To instill discipline in the education sector of the state, the deputy governor, Adebule, said four disciplinary cases were decided against erring members of staff who were sanctioned according to the public service rule in the last one year.

She revealed that 85 students had their names in the black book which had been recently re-introduced as disciplinary measure to whip them into line and serve as deterrence to others.

She explained that the implication of having a student’s name in the black book, according to her, is that any other wrong doing by such student could lead to his or her expulsion.

Adebule, however, enjoined parents and guardians to monitor the activities and progress of their children and wards, saying no stone would be left unturned in the efforts of government to achieve set goals.

“I want to emphasize that without any prejudice to the outcome of the ongoing trial, any child found wanting like those Ireti Senior Grammar School and Falomo Senior High School would not be spared the consequence of his or her indiscretion,” she warned.

It would be recalled that George Abiodun, Braimoh Lateef, Yussuf Fawaz, Saka Wahab and Justine Harrison, who were alleged to have participated in the ignoble harassment and molestation of their female colleagues, had been arraigned and were facing the law for their lawless attitude.

The deputy governor noted that the state government through the State Examination Board, in her bid to stamp out examination malpractices from her schools and encourage hard work, the had introduced a Digital Innovation Question Paper (DIQP) for Screening Test.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said that N76million was paid to award 19 students’ foreign scholarship.

He also said that in all the state owned institutions, various courses had been accredited by the relevant boards while some others got official endorsement for affiliations.

According to him, the state tertiary institutions have effectively leveraged technology to enhance teaching and education delivery as well as improve administration and provision of educational services.

Bank-Olemoh said infrastructural facilities in all Tertiary Institutions had received attention in the last one year, noting that all the roads in LASU (Ojo), LASUCOM (Ikeja) and LASPOTECH (Ikorodu) had been renovated with proper drainage and street lights installed.

“In LASU, more than 15 buildings, including the Senate Building, the Students’ Arcade, School of Communication, Ojo; and a Lecture Theater at the Epe campus have been completed and the construction of 6,000 bed LASU hostel at the Ojo, campus will commence in July 2017,” he said.