COMMISSIONER CHARGES LAGOS PRINCIPALS ON IMPROVED PERFORMANCE IN WASSCE, OTHER EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS

… Ends Mass-Promotion To Terminal Class

The Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Tolani Alli-Balogun, has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of students in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and other external examinations. He tasked Principals in Lagos State to devise strategies for improvement, seeking innovative solutions to address the declining performance.

The Commissioner expressed concern at strategic meetings held across the six Education Districts, noting that despite the significant investment by the Lagos State Government in education, Students’ performance in external examinations has not reflected this investment. He expected Students’ performance to improve, not decline, given the substantial resources allocated to education.

Alli-Balogun, taking swift action to address students’ declining performance, calls for the exclusive promotion of high-achieving students to the terminal class. This measure, he said, aims to end the practice of mass-promoting students, which has hitherto not yielded positive results.

This also would encourage the intending final-year students to work harder and strive for excellence, ultimately leading to better academic outcomes. He said, “This strategic approach is expected to improve the overall performance of Students and raise the standards of education in the State”.

The Commissioner emphasised the need for swift action to revive various school activities that tap into students’ natural learning abilities and stimulate their physical and mental well-being. This includes reactivating co-curricular activities that foster holistic development in students.

To achieve this, he directed implementation strategies that promote interactive learning, such as incorporating hands-on activities, experiments, and projects that encourage students to learn by doing, reviving sports and physical education programmes that promote physical fitness, teamwork, and mental discipline, encourage students to express themselves through arts, music, drama, and other creative outlets and empower them to take ownership of their learning by leading projects, clubs, and organizations that align with their interests.

“By reactivating these activities, schools can provide students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in all aspects of life”, he enthused.