The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State Ministry of Education

  • Ministry postpones three exams

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education has postponed three public examinations scheduled for this month.

    They are the  Screening Test into the State Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools (slated for June 3-8), the Basic Education Certificate  Examination (BECE; June 25-July 2) and the Placement Test into JSS 1 in public secondary schools (July 13). New dates have yet to be fixed for the examinations.

    A statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Adesegun Ogundeji, said the examinations were postponed because schools were yet to adopt e-registration.

    Read Also: Ministry, AfDB partner on job creation

    The statement reads: “The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye noted that the postponement was necessitated by the inability of many schools and private individuals to adhere strictly to the dictates of the new full e-registration system adopted by the Examinations Board this year which has made most of the data submitted incomplete.”

    According to the statement, the board introduced 100 per cent e-registration to check the activities of fraudsters found to have been extorting unsuspecting parents/guardians.

    “There is need to clean up the data with a view to bringing every candidate on board thus necessitating the shift,” she said.

  • Lagos celebrates public school pupil for topping 2019 UTME nationwide

    Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye , has congratulated Master Ezeunala Ekene Franklin, an SS3 pupil of Meiran Community Secondary School, Meiran, for making the best score in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    Franklin scored 347 in the examination. A breakdown of the result showed that he had 78 in English, 91 in Mathematics, 86 in Physics and 92 in Chemistry.

    In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education, Adesegun Ogundeji, Mrs Adekanye said she was not surprised at Franklin’s performance, saying he had won many laurels representing the state in competitions.

    She said the 15-year old came first in the Zonal final of 2018 NNPC National Quiz competition. He proceeded and represented the South West at the National finals in Abuja.

    Adekanye noted that Franklin was to lead the Lagos team to 2018 Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientist (JETS) competition last December but when it was rescheduled, he had to be dropped to enable him concentrate on his WASSCE.

    She expressed joy that a new team of SS2 pupils eventually won the competition. A feat she ascribed to the qualitative education that the State has been providing.

    Read Also: Kwara bans public schools from collecting illegal fees

    Mrs Adekanye said quite a number of public school pupils did very well in the 2019 UTME – like Ihejeamatu Anthony of Festac Senior Grammar School who scored 327; AbdulLateef Adeyemi of Government Senior College, Ajara (295) and Tadese Fafai and AbdulWaheed Adegbite both of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Secondary School, Agege (291 and 271).

    The Permanent Secretary praised Franklin and others who had made Lagos and Nigeria proud locally and internationally.

    Adekanye said their performance would encourage the government to do more in making the school environment conducive for teaching and learning and continue organizing inter-school competitions in place such as the state quiz and debate, current affairs and the like.

     

     

  • Commonwealth lessons by pupils

    Monday’s Commonwealth Day celebration by the Lagos State Ministry of Education provided a platform for pupils of the six education of the state to educate their peers, teachers and senior government functionaries about the commonwealth nations, their currency, capital, attire and values.

    The theme for the Day, “A connected Commonwealth” was displayed by the pupils as they competed for laurels through various performing art forms (drama, dance, poetry, choral, and fashion parade).

    The overall prize went to Education District One, represented by pupils of Oke Odo Senior High School, Ile-Epo, for its drama which portrayed how the countries in the Commonwealth were disconnected because of lack of respect for each other’s culture, languages, or racism.

    English Teacher at Oke Odo Senior High School, Ile-Epo, Ms Adeola Adefemi, who prepared the pupils for the competition, said the aim of the drama was to solve the problems it highlighted.

    “We looked at the theme and we felt there should be a problem we solve.  Among the Commonwealth countries, there is problem of racism, lack of respect for culture and language of others and we hope it would be corrected through this drama,” she said.

    Precious Patrick, an SS3 pupil on the drama team, said she was delighted that her school won despite not displaying costumes as colourful as those of others.

    “The drama was highly educative.  I learnt we should have respect for one another’s culture, language, not negate people’s views and have regard for the rule of law.  When I saw the costumes of other districts, I thought we could not win because our costumes were not so good, but I am happy we won,” she said.

    Education District Four came second with their Atilogu Dance that featured a brief parade of other countries, while Education District Three was third with their colourful fashion parade of the national attires of the various countries that make up the commonwealth.

    In her speech, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, praised the students for reflecting the theme in the presentation. She said efforts must be made to achieve peace in the Commonwealth.

    “The theme of the Y2019 Commonwealth celebration ‘A Connected Commonwealth’ is apt, given the prevailing world dynamics. You all will agree with me that there is the need for concerted efforts to pull down all obstacles on our way to building a sustainable and peaceful future that guarantees the optimal development of all, without inhibitions.

    “Ladies and Gentlemen, especially our amiable children, a connected commonwealth will bring about peace amongst countries of the world. Nations will shun selfishness and bullying of smaller and weaker countries,” he said.

    Director, Co-curricular Services, Mrs Marion Babs-Akineyeye, said the Commonwealth Day competition was an avenue for the ministry to nurture various talents in the young ones.

  • The scourge of uncompleted schools

    The official blog of the Lagos State Ministry of Education mentions that the state has 1001 primary, 339 junior secondary and 319 senior secondary schools. Given the daily population increase in Lagos state, it is difficult to tell if more schools or facilities have been added since that post was made.

    Almost ten years before that post, the World Bank had given support to the Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project in its bid to improve the quality of public secondary education in the state. The project proposed the extension of school development grants to 667 schools for improving education quality and student learning. It also aimed to cover professional development for teachers, strengthen monitoring and evaluation and improve student performance in external examinations like the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The project was approved on June 16, 2009, and completed on August 31, 2016.

    Given the fact that no substantive data about the beneficiary schools is available, one is left to assume that some the schools visited for this story were included in the project. Therefore, given the project’s official timeline, it is safe to suggest that construction works such as the 18-block classroom in Ajara Senior Grammar School, Badagry, St. Patrick Senior Grammar School, Epe, and Community Senior Secondary School, Baiyeku, Ikorodu benefitted from the World Bank cash.

    On a visit to Badagry in mid-2018, it was clear that the construction of the classroom block at Ajara Senior Grammar School – awarded on the 14th of December, 2013 and proposed to be delivered in 8 months – was far from completion. A total sum of 165 million naira (456,000 USD) was invested in it.

    The building sits at the extreme left corner of the school compound. Looking beyond the entrance gate, the scaffold hugging the building is still visible albeit dilapidated, apparently waiting for a simple nudge to completely topple over. The walls of the building are unpainted with rough plastering laid over them. Inside, the classrooms resemble the interior of a brick factory, with building blocks arranged everywhere on the bare rough floors.

    Standing there and wondering why the project had been so delayed, a few questions came to mind. Were these unplanned projects? Unlikely, because it was included in the list of projects in the year 2013. So, was the contractor – M.B. Projects Limited – the right choice for the job? Perhaps, but a more definitive answer can only be had after assessing other projects awarded to them. Then did they run out of funds during project implementation? Again, maybe. But this should have been avoided by efficient monitoring and evaluation mechanisms set up by government agencies involved and other third-party stakeholder groups (including representatives of the community where the school is situated). Unfortunately, the absence of public procurement data and records has made it practically impossible to trace the immediate cause of abandoned projects like this one. One can only shudder to think that there was eight of such school contracts awarded that same year. If this ended up like this, what hope is there for the completion of the others?

    Meanwhile, discarded projects litter Lagos state. Most of these projects remain abandoned and do not outlive the government that initiated them. Thus, it has become easy to associate these projects with the unwillingness of incoming governments to complete them because they were initiated by their predecessors. Since they seek self-gratification through public approval, new governments use available funds to start new projects in order to claim all the credit for themselves. This is a common phenomenon particularly when there is a change in the ruling party.

    For this reason, the continuation and completion of all inherited projects is recommended n the upcoming administration. The old ones should be cleared off before new ones are embarked upon. This way, taxpayers are sure to get value for their money. Government is continual, so are projects.

    One solution to this anomaly is to make public data more available and accessible to everyone. Since data is neutral, it supports continuity regardless of who is in charge. The openness of government data is becoming the norm everywhere and Lagos, the sixth largest economy in Africa, cannot afford to lag behind. A leader who will make Lagos a real smart city must have openness and continuity as a watchword.

     •This article was written as part of the Open Contracting Programme for Journalists workshop organised by the Open Data Research Centre of the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.

  • PS lauds Lagos SSCE results

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi, has praised the improved performance of public school pupils in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) since 2014.

    He said public schools have moved from a poor performance of 21.22 per cent in 2014 to achieving 66 per cent credit and above in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics in this year’s examination, a performance better than the national average of 59.22 per cent.

    In 2015, the state achieved 37.27 per cent; and 50.41 per cent in 2016.

    He gave the statistics while addressing school counselors during a training on subject selection held last Thursday at the SUBEB Hall, Maryland.

    Lagos has made tremendous progress in external examinations since 2015. The Permanent Secretary, who made this known, revealed that the state’s performance at this year’s WASSCE was 66 per cent pass in at least five subjects including English and Mathematics adding that compared to the 50.41 per cent in 2016, 37.27 per cent in 2015 and 21.22 per cent in 2014, it was evident that the education sector has been making geometric progress.

    Speaking at a workshop with the theme “Relevance of Subject Selection in Secondary Schools”, Odeyemi opined that it was designed to deepen knowledge and widen the horizon of Counsellors in the state to help them assist  Senior Secondary School pupils in the choice of subjects vis a vis their future ambitions.

    According to him, “the theme is apt because this is the time to interface with students of SS.1 in order to know their future ambition, and appropriately advise them. A look at their performances in their Basic Education Certificate Examination will indicate their subjects of strength and their area of weakness”.

    He admonished the counselors to bring their knowledge of the requirements of the examination bodies such as WAEC, NECO, GCE and JAMB in relation to the admission criteria of tertiary institutions at home and abroad to bear in advising the students in the selection and proper combination of subjects for Ordinary Level Certificate Examination which is a very important pre-requisite for admission into tertiary institutions.

    Odeyemi further said the steady improvement in the education sector of the state could only be beneficial to the students and the state when it translates to future success of the students concerned. Students offering Science, Humanities or Business subjects must be seen to belong to their relevant classes except in subjects that are compulsory for all students.

    He advised that, a situation where a student will mix subjects in Humanities and Business together and the passes recorded are useless in pursuance of future education should be avoided.

    Earlier in her welcome address, Director, Child Guidance, School Counselling and Special Education, Mrs Ketimu Musa, said the Ministry assembled seasoned counsellors to take participants in topics like structure and subjects of the new curricum, subject selection for the four fields of study; administration and streaming using the aptitude test and strategies to curb the conflict between skills acquisition and formal education in our secondary schools.

     

     

     

  • Lagos shuts unregistered education centres

    From next Monday, the Lagos State Ministry of Education through the Agency for Mass Education will begin a clampdown of all unregistered tutorial and continuing education centres (CECs) in the state.

    “After several follow up engagements, the state will now commence clamp down exercise on all unregistered centres and enforce compliance to set standards through the Agency for Mass Education in line with Edict No 2, Section 4.3 of 1991 that mandates the agency to control the activities of all tutorial and continuing education centres in the state,” government said.

    This was disclosed by the Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh last Thursday.

    Bank-Olemoh said the action was necessitated by non-compliance of some operators of CECs to comply with the state’s directive to register their centres and pay up their annual dues.

    It would be recalled that the decision to clampdown on CECs was put on hold following a closed door meeting with critical stakeholders in the sector in September. At the meeting Bank-Olemoh reiterated the directive of government on standardising the education sector in line with international best practices.The stakeholders promised cooperation, by maintaining high level of professionalism and standards.

    “Lagos residents enroll in these tutorial centres and as government; we must ensure that quality service is delivered to our people. We must set standards and enforce it,”  Bank-Olemoh said.

    “Operators of tutorial and continuing education eentres across the state are hereby advised to get registered with the Agency for Mass Education and pay up all stipulated dues to avoid being shut down,” he added.

  • Lagos to shut unregistered tutorial centres

    Lagos to shut unregistered tutorial centres

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education through the Agency for Mass Education will commence shutdown of all unregistered Tutorial and Continuing Education Centres (CECs) in Lagos State form Monday next week.

    Special Adviser to Governor Akinwumi Ambode on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh said in a statement that the closure‎ was based on the refusal of some operators of Tutorial and Continuing Education Centres to comply with the government’s directive to the centres to register and pay their annual dues after several notices.

    Last September 26, Bank-Olemoh suspended a decision to clamp down on such centres after a closed door meeting with some stakeholders. During the meeting, Bank-Olemoh reiterated  Governor Ambode’s directive on standardizing the educational sector in line with international best practices.

    The stakeholders had agreed to cooperate with the government, promising to maintain high level of professionalism and standards.

    The state is carrying out the exercise in line with Edict No 2, Section 4.3 of 1991 that mandates the Agency to control the activities of all Tutorial and Continuing Education Centres in the State.

    The Special Adviser said: “Lagos residents enroll in these tutorial centres and as government; we must ensure that quality service is delivered to our people. We must set standards and enforce it.”

    The statement urged operators of tutorial and Continuing Education centres across the state to get registered with the Agency for Mass Education and pay up all stipulated dues to avoid being shut down.

     

  • Schools to resume April 18 in Lagos State

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education, on Thursday, announced that public and private primary and secondary schools operating in the state would resume on April 18.

    Dr Idiat Adebule, the Deputy Governor of the state, who is also  the Commissioner for Education, made this announcement in a statement in Lagos.

    Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, Assistant Director, Public Affairs Unit in the ministry signed the statement.

    In the statement, Adebule said that private and public schools must adhere strictly to the 2016/2017 academic calendar.

    The deputy governor sent a goodwill message to all pupils and parents, wishing them Happy Easter, following the successful completion of the lent.

    She said that the 2016/2017 academic calendar was jointly agreed upon at the state education stakeholders’ meeting before the commencement of the academic year.

    According to her, the adoption of a uniform calendar will enable proper planning and ensure that pupils and students attend school for the number of days required per term.

  • Lagos schools to resume April 18

    Lagos schools to resume April 18

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education, on Thursday, announced that public and private primary and secondary schools operating in the state would resume on April 18.

    Dr Idiat Adebule, the Deputy Governor of the state, who is also  the Commissioner for Education, made this announcement in a statement in Lagos.

    Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, Assistant Director, Public Affairs Unit in the ministry signed the statement.

    In the statement, Adebule said that private and public schools must adhere strictly to the 2016/2017 academic calendar.

    The deputy governor sent a goodwill message to all pupils and parents, wishing them Happy Easter, following the successful completion of the lent.

    She said that the 2016/2017 academic calendar was jointly agreed upon at the state education stakeholders’ meeting before the commencement of the academic year.

    According to her, the adoption of a uniform calendar will enable proper planning and ensure that pupils and students attend school for the number of days required per term.

  • Children’s day: No hiding place for child traffickers – Ambode

    Children’s day: No hiding place for child traffickers – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday said that the State Government would no longer tolerate any form of child abuse, domestic violence, child trafficking or violation of any law on the development of children in the state warning that perpetrators would be dealt with in accordance with the provision of the law.

    Governor Ambode who was speaking at the Children’s Day celebration organised by the Lagos  State Ministry of Education at the Police College ground, Ikeja said that in the recent times, there  has been  a noticeable increase in child abuse,  raping, kidnapping , deliberate neglect  and above all, child trafficking   in the country.

    The Governor who said that these acts constitute serious criminal offences warned that his government would not tolerate any of these acts in any part of the state.

    He therefore warned perpetrators of these acts to desist as his government is battle ready to deal decisively with anyone caught in the act. The governor expressed sadness that this criminal act is becoming a norm in our society today rather than being an aberration.

    Governor Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule disclosed that recent findings from Violence against Children (VAC) survey indicated that children under the age of 18 in Nigeria are being abused in the society, most especially by those that they refer to as their family members.

    The Governor while assuring children that his administration has taken a holistic approach in protecting them against an abuse or unjust treatment, disclosed   that security operatives have been put on the alert to arrest and prosecute anyone that abuses or infringes on their fundamental rights.

    “My beloved children, let me assure you all of our determination and commitment towards ensuring that anyone who engages  in any form of abuse and violence against any child shall be appropriately dealt with under the law,’’ the governor warned

    He reminded them that his administration has demonstrated its zero tolerance for child abuse, kidnapping or violence against children with the prompt approach taken to recover three kidnapped students of Babington Macaulay Seminary, Ikorodu.

    He assured that not only that he would ensure that those  behind the act are  legally dealt with, he has directed all security operatives including the police to provide security around all public schools in the state to forestall a re-occurrence.

    Describing the theme of the year 2016 Children’s Day celebration: Stop Violence Against Children as instructive, the governor stated that his administration is investing heavily in creating a conducive environment for them to develop their talents.

    He said, “A testament of our government commitment to your future and nurturing of your talents is the budgetary provision of the sum of N113.3billion in the year 2016 budget for the education sector’’.

    While congratulating them for the success of the celebration, Ambode urged children to work harder and be focused in their academic pursuits so that government huge investment in their education would not be a waste.

    On her part, wife of the Governor, Mr. Bolanle Ambode said Lagos State has continued to lead from the front in placing priority in the well being of children, however adding that there was still more grounds to cover in several areas.

    Mrs. Ambode who was represented by the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibiyemi Bello, commended the activities of various women and children-interest Non Governmental Organisations, saying that they have done much in the area of promoting public awareness on child rights, as well as challenges facing them.

    “However, I urge them to intensify efforts in the area of campaign against domestic violence and child marriage. These are unacceptable social evils that have simply refused to disappear from our society,” Mrs. Ambode said.