Lagos records high turnout as schools resume

There was high turnout of students and teachers in Lagos schools on Monday as they resumed for a new academic session.

Similarly, academic activities have started in many of the schools while some others were cleaning up their surroundings in readiness for full work the next day.

Nigerian Tribune monitored the resumption with the officials of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education led by the Commissioner, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun.

Interestingly, all the schools visited had no pre-knowledge of the commissioner’s visit, hence they were met the way they were as there was room for window-dressing preparation.

For this, those who visited earlier in the morning had their environment dirty and their principals and teachers expressed surprise to see the commissioner and his team unannounced in their schools on resumption day.

Some of the schools visited include Ransome Kuti Memorial Junior and Senior Grammar School, Mushin;
Oduduwa Secondary School, Mushin; Birch Freeman High School, Surulere and Ojota Secondary School, Ojota.

Addressing the teachers, the commissioner urged them to leverage on their professionalism, and always be punctual, committed, and alive to their responsibilities.

He told them that the state government would want them to improve their service delivery, and upgrade their skills by opening to new knowledge, especially in the areas of Artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and so forth.

He also charged them to take extra-curricular activities such as debate competitions, boys’ and girls’ scouts, sporting events, and so forth with their students more seriously as they are expected to produce total and globally competitive learners.

He emphasised that the state government was committed to addressing their concerns and also providing conducive environment for them, while they should also collaborate with stakeholders in their host communities.

He said the state government would want their students to perform better in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Exams (WASSCE), which will be paid for by the state government even as he ordered all the principals to paste the results of last set on the school notice board and also ensure they don’t collect any money from any of the candidates concerning checking of their results and certificates collection.

For students, the commissioner urged them to take their studies and other lawful engagements more seriously and ensure they are the best in their learning.

He promised that the state government would continue to provide them with what would help them achieve their purpose in school.

He advised them to steer clear of vices such as bullying, gangsterism, drug abuse, cultism, and so forth, reminding them that the state government has zero tolerance for them all.

Advising the parents and guardians to play their roles in their children’s and wards’ education well, the commissioner said that training the young ones to become responsible citizens is a concerted effort of all the stakeholders.

While it is expected that students’ absentees would join their peers within the week, commissioner disclosed that JSS1 and SS1 students would resume soon as their admission is still ongoing.

ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE