The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students were unsuccessful in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), raising concerns about the academic performance within the state’s educational system.
This was revealed by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a press briefing on Thursday at the state’s Alausa office in Ikeja.
According to Alli-Balogun, of the 58,188 students who sat for the exams, only 54.3% passed, leaving nearly half of them unsuccessful, despite the state government’s financial investment of over N1.5 billion to cover the examination fees.
“The Lagos State Government invested N1,577,794,000 to sponsor 58,188 students for the 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun said.
In a bid to enhance accountability and ensure only qualified students benefit from such support in the future, the commissioner highlighted the introduction of biometric and image registration for the 2025 WASSCE candidates. This initiative identified 56,134 students as eligible for the state’s sponsorship.
In response to the disappointing results, the government has launched a new educational initiative called the Eko Learners’ Support Programme, aimed at improving academic performance for both WASSCE and NECO candidates.
Introduced on January 14, 2025, the programme is part of the government’s efforts to uplift educational standards across public schools. It will feature 30-minute lessons in key subjects like English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Government, Literature-in-English, History, and Yoruba.
These lessons will be broadcast on Lagos Television and made available on popular digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), providing free and accessible educational resources for all students.
“It is a comprehensive educational initiative designed to help every student reach their full academic potential, irrespective of their background or financial situation,” Alli-Balogun emphasized.
He encouraged students, particularly those in boarding schools, to take full advantage of the programme, stressing that education is a lifelong commitment that requires continuous effort and dedication.
Leave a Reply