The Lagos government says it spent N1.5 billion to cover the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for 56,134 final-year secondary school students.
Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the state’s commissioner for basic and secondary education, spoke on Thursday during a press briefing in Ikeja.
The briefing detailed the ministry’s achievements over the past year and marked the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Alli-Balogun said over 17,500 students successfully transferred from public and private institutions to the state’s junior and senior secondary schools.
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He noted the high demand for the state’s model colleges and upgraded secondary schools, with 4,763 students offered provisional admission out of 5,815 applicants.
Plans, he added, are underway to increase the number of these institutions across the state.
The commissioner expressed his satisfaction with the performance of Lagos State students in national and international competitions.
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He further stated that the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) had established more than 600 partnerships with local and international organisations, leading to development, internship, and employment opportunities for young people.
He reported that 75 per cent of LASTVEB graduates have secured industry jobs, while 25 per cent are pursuing further education.
Alli-Balogun said Project Zero, an initiative to re-enrol out-of-school children, has brought back over 300,000 into public schools across Lagos.
He said significant infrastructure development is also underway, including the construction of a vocational school and an inclusive centre at the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle.
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Alli-Balogun stated that this project, which also includes the construction of 13 new classroom blocks and the rehabilitation of 24 others, aims to create a conducive learning environment and is expected to become a “tourist attraction”.
The vocational school and inclusive centre will cater to all students, including those with disabilities, and a central science and ICT hub will serve students from various schools.
The commissioner said the Lagos education ministry and its agencies are committed to improving the quality of education in the state.
He said the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) would be stringent in addressing truancy and misconduct among teachers.
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