Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, has approved the disbursement of more than N4.2 billion to cover the costs of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, which is administered by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) for all public schools within the administration’s five-year term.
Commissioner for Basic Education and Secondary Education, Mr Tolani Alli-Balogun, disclosed this on Thursday, during the Ministerial Briefing on the first year anniversary of the second term of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration, held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to Alli-Balogun, Sanwo-Olu’s administration has never defaulted in the payment of WAEC’ fees since inception.
The Administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has never defaulted
on the payment of WAEC fees of all public school SS3 Students in the four years of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s first term in Office.
“The State Government paid over N4.2 billion between 2020 and 2023 to keep our promise of full payment of West African Senior School Certificate Examination fees.
“In the current school year, (2024) The Governor has approved the sum of N1,571,076,000 as registration fees and other cost for 58, 188 SS3 students writing the West Africa School Certificate Examination.
“In 2020, the number of candidates as beneficiaries were, 45, 446, with total sum of N636, 033, 700, paid.
“In 2021, the number of candidates were, 51, 187 with total sum of N717, 210, 650, paid.
“Also, in 2022, the number of candidates were, 56, 256 with total amount of N1, 016, 380, 800, paid, while in 2023, total number of candidates were 57, 312 with total sum of N1, 035, 893, 200.
“And in 2024, the number of candidates to benefit are 58, 188, while the sun of N1, 571, 076, 000, paid,” Alli-Balogun stated.
The commissioner also revealed that a total of 1,340 teachers were recruited within the period under review, 2023 till date.
“In the last one year, 2024, over 1,000 newly recruited Teachers were inducted into the teaching profession for effective teaching/learning delivery till date by Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM.”
While speaking on the state government efforts on out of school children, Alli-Balogun said, ” So far about 2,636 Out of School Children have been kit-ted and enrolled back to various public schools in the state.”
On education planning and policy matters, the commissioner stated:”From the onset, the Education Transformation Plan of this administration and its expected deliverables has focused on policy shift and address short, medium and long term challenges to the provision of qualitative education in Lagos State.
“As part of this plan, since 2019 the Administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has rigorously pursued a strategic policy of not leaving any child behind.
“In addition to the existing 1,723 public schools in Lagos State, the Ministry executed a plan to expand our capacity to absorb more students and provide access to education across the state.
Speaking on the total number of approved private nursery and primary schools from 2020 till date, are 462, while secondary schools are 251, with a total of 713, while vocational schools are seven, totalling 720 of approved schools in Lagos.