Lagos Govt Reintegrates13,000 Out-of- School Children into the System

…Expends N5,601,456,100 on 313,034 WASCE Candidates in Four Fears

…Commits to Establishment of 9 Additional Public Schools

Segun James and Funmi Ogundare

Lagos State Government has disclosed that not less than N5,601,456,100 was expended on 313,034 candidates who sat for the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, (WASSCE) in the last four years.

While the state government had established additional nine public schools, not less than 256 private nursery, primary and secondary schools have been granted provisional approval to operate.

Also, the government has taken about 13,000 out-of- school pupils and students back into the school system under it’s Project Zero tolerance to illiteracy in the state.

The government further disclosed that not less than 12 private schools were closed down as a result of infractions and other forms of illegalities.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, who disclosed this at the ministerial press briefing on the first year anniversary of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu , explained that the move was in line with the state’s mission of creating a sustainable conducive environment for qualitative teaching and learning through the
provision of infrastructure, capacity building and free basic education for children
of school age irrespective of their background and upholding the vision of leaving no child behind.

He expressed concern about a private school in Ilupeju which closed it’s doors to other nationals saying that his ministry will shut it down until they comply with the enabling laws and policies of the state.

According to him, ” we have gone there to do our investigation and made mention to them our enabling laws and child rights Act guiding private schools
” These protect every child right access to education and in a situation whereby an institution is denying a child that right , that means that institution must be shut down if it exists within our space.”
On measures to check bullying in schools, he stated that his ministry had carried out investigations on many reported cases which happened in the school system.

He stressed the need for adequate counseling and monitoring , as well as having an interaction with the parents to adequately take care of their children .

“Bullying is unacceptable in the state . Parents need to teach their children the necessary morals and value,” the commissioner stated, adding that any vices children display in school, starts from the home.
” We will be having a stakeholders engagement with parents and community leaders on issues of cultism and other vices . Luckily in Lagos State, we have organisations who have been coming forward to help us tackle all these so as to ensure that we build a future for our children.”

He expressed concern that people tend to look the other way because their children are not the ones involved in cultism , drug abuse and other vices .

Alli-Balogun stressed the need for all stakeholders to rise to the occasion to stamp them out and that the school system should continue to train children to speak out when they see such.

He explained that the state monitors schools on a daily basis to ensure compliance with its engaging laws and policies, adding that 12 schools have been shut down so far for safety infractions and illegal operations .
” We usually wait until when schools are on recess to actually effect the shutting down of the schools . But before then, we profile the schools and approvals are sought from my office if it is discovered that the safety of learners in the school are being threatened,” Alli-Balogun stressed.