Giving reasons for the new rule, the Chairperson, State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Gbolahan Daodu, at an interactive session with representatives of Head-teachers and Parents’ Forum of each public primary school in the state, said government is committed to providing quality education to students in the state, and the new rule would help achieve that.
“We had to stop the transfer of students from other schools, and outside the state, into JSS 2 and SS 2 because aside from compounding the infrastructural challenges we face, a lot of the parents falsify the documents they present to us.
“Some of the parents connive with the head-teachers of the schools and admit students who failed woefully in their former schools or have never been in secondary school into JSS1 or SS2. This negates the education policy thrust of this administration.”
She said for government to put a stop to the over-stretching of facilities beyond the number of students that can be accommodated in these schools, quality education is being provided to those that are already in JSS 1 and can be confidently promoted to the next class.
Pointing out that government is aware of the problems facing the provision of quality education in the state, the SUBEB boss said government is doing its best to address them one at a time.
“Government is prepared, ready and responsive to these challenges and is addressing them. We are appealing to all concerned to be patient with us because it would take some time before we get to our destination. If it is possible to know how many we are and how many more are joining us, it would help in addressing these problems.”
Speaking on the issue of increasing number of out-of-school-children in the state, which she attributed to child labour, Daodu called on all parents and guardians who have employed the services of house-helps to endeavour to send them to school, which is free in the state.
“Once the UBE policy, which would make education free and compulsory, is signed into law, I don’t see any reason why parents won’t want to send their wards or house-helps to school because what is required is just a few support for the children.”
Pointing out that this administration is committed to providing quality education to its teeming populace, Daodu stressed on the need for teachers and head-teachers to seek additional knowledge, whether government is sponsoring them or not.
“Effective teaching is taken seriously by this government and a lot of money is being spent on the training and re-training of teachers in the state. We are appealing to the teachers that have partaken in the training programmes to impart what they have learnt to their students. “Aside the training programmes being organised by government, teachers and head-teachers should make the conscious effort to seek additional knowledge through seminars and training programmes on their own account.”
Welcoming the delegates to the interactive session, SUBEB Board Secretary, Mrs. Titilola Oluseye, said education is the pivot of development in any nation, and Lagos State is making giant strides in the education sector through the provision of textbooks, learning and reading materials, among others, for the students and teachers.
Appreciating the efforts of government in the education sector, Chief Babatunde Beblee, who spoke on behalf of the parents, called on government to come to their aid by re-building the decayed LA Nursery & Primary School, Ibeche, Seabeach, Amuwo Odofin.
“Though we are appealing to our members to understand the plight of government, but we don’t have a school building and our children are using the Apostolic Church building.”
