The commissioner for basic and secondary education in Lagos State, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun said 31,596 students from public secondary schools failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He disclosed this during the 2025 ministerial press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.
Meanwhile, he said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had spent N1, 577,794,000 to cover examination fees for 58,188 bona fide students under its free education initiative.
Despite this significant investment, he said more than half of the sponsored candidates failed the examination, raising questions about the quality of instruction and student preparedness in Lagos public schools.
“The state government is committed to relieving parents of the burden of exam fees. But we must also prevent wastage by ensuring only qualified students benefit from this programme,” the commissioner said.
He also stated that about 30,000 out-of-school children had been re-enrolled in public schools across Lagos during the review period, as part of efforts to reduce the social and economic consequences of youth disengagement.
“We’ve introduced strategic interventions to address declining performances in WASSCE and other external examinations. Innovative solutions are being implemented, and we continue to invest heavily in education,” he added.
The commissioner highlighted the Eko Learners’ Support Programme, launched on January 14, 2025, as a targeted intervention to support candidates preparing for WASSCE and NECO examinations.
He also said 4,353 qualified teachers were recruited between 2023 and 2024.
“These teachers were deployed across various education districts and the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board,” he said.
For his part, the commissioner for tertiary education, Mr Tolani Sule, said the state government “is actively repositioning its tertiary institutions for optimal impact in line with its broader developmental goals.”
