LASG calls for partnership on school, child education programmes

The Lagos State Ministry of Basic Education has called on corporate organisations and individuals to partner government through its ‘Adopt a School,’ and ‘Adopt a Child’ programmes to support learning.

Mr Abolaji Abayomi, the Permanent-Secretary of the Ministry, made the call in an interview with our reporter in Lagos on Friday.

He said government could not carry the education burden alone, adding that the partnership would go a long way in making things better.

Abayomi said the move became necessary in order to make quality education available to the less privileged and accommodate more students that are ready to learn within the shores of Lagos State.

He urged the corporate organisation to assist government through the programmes by picking up a project such as building a block of classrooms or equipping a laboratory for a school in the state.

He said that the sponsor of ‘Adopt a School’, on request, could be allowed to brand his/her company’s name on the building for a period of time.

“The ‘Adopt a Child’ project is also available.

“This is a situation whereby one can decide to sponsor a student who needs intervention in terms of school bags, uniform or stationery; the person may not know the child.

“You just come to the ministry or go to the school and tell them that you want to make the items available for the indigent students. It’s a collaborative effort with the government,” Abayomi said.

The permanent-secretary noted that the Lagos State Government (LASG), in the last three years, had paid over a billion naira for the registration of students in WAEC, as a regular commitment.

He said that Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) comes with a cost but that the LASG gives it out for free to JSS3 students.

“It’s just like the WAEC where the government pays en bloc to WAEC.”

Abayomi said that the July 2023 Placement Test by Continuous Assessment Scores ( CAS) written by primary six pupils in public and private schools was purely for statistics purpose.

According to him, no pupil would be denied access to Junior Secondary School, irrespective of performance.

Abayomi said that 11 years remains the approved age for admission into secondary schools, particularly in the Model Colleges across the state, while condemning what he called the ‘hurried child syndrome.’

He warned parents and guardians, who were in the habit of indulging in the act to desist, noting that it was not healthy for the academic progression of a child.