LASG Honours Supporters Of Public Schools

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday recognized some corporate organizations and individuals for their support to public schools in the state.

The state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said his administration is setting new levels in quality assurance in public schools.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Events Centre, CBD Alausa, venue of the Corporate Social Responsibility Awards/Breakfast Meeting explained that with the increased collaboration between the supporters of education and government, many rules are being reviewed to make education better.

He said one of such rules that has been reviewed is the system whereby the standard and level required to pass a student from one class to the other has remained stagnant without a review which has resulted in pupils always being moved from one class to the other irrespective of the outcome of the assessment of such pupils.

The governor explained that what was realized is that the stagnant standard of the assessment spoke volume and government wanted to ensure that only better prepared students face public examinations.

He said in addition, the government also gave added responsibilities to the teachers and ensured that the teachers were trained and were also provided direct finances under the EKO Education Project to directly fix basic utilities in the schools with reduced contact with the seat of government in Alausa.

He emphasized that from the midterm results obtained from the World Bank which is the collaborative partner on the EKO Project, it is very clear that the programme which is aimed at improving the standard in the public schools has been very inspiring.

Governor Fashola said in terms of education at the primary level, he has the commitment of all the six Tutors -General and Permanent Secretaries to work with all local governments in the state to ensure that the quality of materials that come in from the primary schools are monitored to ensure that it does not fall.

The governor also said the Support Our School initiative represents a symbolism of the discontent about what is available in public schools currently in terms of quality and the resolve of the government to do something to change it.

He said in terms of the statistics about what still needed to be done, data that reminds of what still needed to be done and where the state is coming from should not discourage stakeholders, rather everyone should remain optimistic.

Going down memory lane, the governor said the free education policy of the Western Nigeria of 1955 which was a resounding success was resisted when it was first introduced because the best things are always resisted.

He said since then, the problem has changed because unlike before when literacy level was very low, the level of literacy in Lagos is now over 80 percent, adding that part of the question to be asked now is what constitutes the content of knowledge being imparted to people.

“Are the products being produced employable?. Are we still using the methods of 1955 to solve the problems of 2012. That is part of our responsibility today under the Support Our Schools initiative.”

Governor Fashola said for those who regard the Support Our Schools initiative as an opportunity for the government to get money to fund education, nothing could be farther from the truth.

He described the gathering as a response to the continuous yearning and desire to intervene which the government has received from several quarters across board over time.

The governor reiterated that apart from the missionaries, there has been no rallying base for individual and corporate organizations to intervene and support schools thus necessitating the institutionalizing of the platform through the Ministry of Education.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye said the Corporate Social ResponsibilityAwards/Breakfast Meeting represents another opportunity to express the sincere gratitude of government to captains of industry, religious leaders, philanthropic organizations who have responded to the government’s clarion call to support the educational sector.

He said the funding of education is a journey which cannot be solely undertaken by government but one which it needs collective will to make an impact on, stressing that government is aware of the need to partner with others to provide qualitative education in the State.

In a lecture on Corporate Social Responsibility, the Executive Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr Ohis Ohiwerei described Corporate Social Responsibility as a very important concept which every organization must incorporate as a management function.

He said it represents a conscious attempt and effort by the well off and well to do to better the lot of the not so well off, adding that it has been incorporated by GTBank into its business model.

He charged all corporate organizations to take up the mantle and support the Lagos State Government in its quest to elevate education to the desired heights.

Awards were presented to organizations like the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Etisalat Nigeria and Oando Plc by the Governor for their support of education in the State.

While responding on behalf of the recipients, the Chief Technical Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Abhulime Ehiagwina said the recognition from the Lagos State Government can only ginger the organizations to prepare for the next generation.

He also urged the State Government to reach out to all the organizations in Corporate Nigeria so that those who have not responded to the clarion call can do so and support education in Lagos State.

Prominent among those who attended the event were the members of the State Executive Council, Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon Wahab Alawiye-King, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Molara Erogbogbo, Tutors -General and Permanent Secretaries in the six zones and representatives of Corporate Nigeria.