The Lagos State Government has revealed that more than 26,000 students from its public secondary schools failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). This was made known by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a press briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday.
Alli-Balogun noted that of the 58,188 students who sat for the exams, 45.7 percent did not make the required pass mark. That translates to 26,592 students who were unable to meet the minimum academic requirement in the key subjects tested.
This worrying result comes even after the state invested a substantial amount to support the candidates. “Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” the commissioner explained.
To improve accountability and ensure only eligible students benefit from future funding, Alli-Balogun said the government introduced a strict biometric and facial image registration process. As a result, 56,134 students were verified and registered for government sponsorship for the upcoming 2025 WASSCE.
In response to the growing concern over academic performance in public schools, the state launched a fresh initiative – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme. The programme, unveiled on January 14, 2025, is designed to improve learning outcomes and prepare students more effectively for both WASSCE and NECO examinations.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
The commissioner also announced that the programme includes 320 broadcast lessons in 10 major subjects like English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Economics, Government, History, Literature-in-English, and Yoruba. These 30-minute lessons will be shown on Lagos Television and posted online across several platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
According to him, the digital format will allow students to learn at their own pace and revisit challenging topics as needed. He described the project as “a supportive eco-system that fosters academic achievement, creativity, critical thinking… every student deserves the opportunity to attain their full potential, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.”
Alli-Balogun called on all students, particularly those in boarding schools, to take the programme seriously and make the most of the free resources.
“It is on this note that I urge and encourage students, more importantly, students in our boarding schools, to take full advantage of this initiative, as education is a lifelong journey,” he said.
