Lagos targets 60% students performance in external exams

In achieving this target, the state government stated that it has directed principals, Head teachers and administrators of public secondary and primary schools to double their efforts by rededicating themselves to duty and make effective use of infrastructure and instructional materials provided by the state government to improve teaching and learning.

The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule who disclosed this Thursday while receiving in audience Executive Members of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPS), Lagos State Chapter, stated that the state government will continue to invest in education, knowing that education is the bedrock of all other developments.

Adebule frankly explained to the visiting principals that the 37% (per cent ) performance recorded by the students in their last West African School Certificate Examination in the state is no more acceptable.

Apart from embarking on school infrastructure renewal programme across the state, the deputy governor further stated that the 17% allocated to the education sector in the year 2016 budget was a further demonstration of government’s genuine commitment to functional and quality education in the state, urging them to complement government’s efforts through hard work and professionalism.

She further disclosed that the State Executive Council at its last meeting approved the construction of new ultra-modern school building to be called Ibile Schools to be fully equipped with state of the art learning facilities, while adding that government has concluded plans to provide and distribute free ICT tablets to students to further enhance their learning development.

Adebule urged the school principals and head teachers to complement government efforts by giving their best and ensuring that the 60% performance target of the government becomes realistic.

In her words, “given the huge resources that the government has committed to education and the need to make our state a role model for other states, I want to implore you to give your best and be dutiful so as to ensure improved performance in all our external exams in the future.’’

While reassuring school principals that government will continue to prioritise their welfare both in remunerations and development training programmes that will update their knowledge, Adebule urged them to use their position to prevail on their teaching staff to have better attitude to work so that government’s huge investment in education will not be a waste.

She promised that the state ministry of education under her watch will help government to implement relevant educational policies that will promote the growth of functional education and rank the state among other best educationally developed states of the world.

Earlier in her address, ANCOPSS President, Mrs Olayinka Omotunde Lawson explained that the visit was a familiarization visit to the deputy governor and to express the body’ support for any initiatives of the state government that can improve teaching and learning for a better performance.

While commending the state government for committing resources towards achieving functional and qualitative education, Mrs Lawson called on the state government to improve on working condition of teachers so as to encourage them to perform better.