Ambode decries marginal pass rate by Lagos pupils in WASSCE

Akinwunmi Ambode

Despite recording a marginal improvement of 41.06 per cent pass rate in 2015 over the 17.40 per cent recorded in the 2011 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Governor Akinwumi Ambode, has registered his displeasure with the performance of Lagos State students and has asked them to buckle up pronto.

He has also reiterated his administration’s determination to upgrade public schools across the state, stressing that all identified gaps in infrastructure deficit and furniture would be bridged considerably and many more schools, (both primary and secondary) will be made more conducive for learning.

Ambode made the disclosure in his address at the 2016 Children’s Day Celebration Parade and Rally, which took place at the Nigerian Police Colleg, Ikeja, where he was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Idiat Oluranti Adebule.

According to Ambode, “It is noteworthy that, while the percentage of students who passed with five credits including Mathematics and English Language in WASSCE has increased from 17.40% in 2011 to 41.06% in 2015. We must realise that this not an acceptable standard for this government. We look forward to a better result from the just concluded SS3 student WASSCE.”

He assured the children that his administration was determined and committed to ensure that anyone who engages in any form of abuse and violence against any child would be seriously dealt with under the law.

“We are currently demonstrating that in the case of those involved in the kidnap of students of Barbington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorudu. In addition to bringing those involved in that criminal act to justice, I have directed that adequate security be provided around all public and private schools to forestall a recurrence in any part of the state,” Ambode informed.

He further stated that his government is investing heavily in creating a conducive learning environment for students to develop their various talents saying a “A testament of our commitment to your future and nurturing of your talents is the budgetary provision of the sum of N113.3b in the year 2016 budget for the education sector.

“This year’s budgetary allocation to the education sector is about one third of the N369bn budgeted by the Federal Government for the entire country; and more than one-third of the N300bn budgeted for the same purpose by 17 other states of the federation.

According to him, “We have also upscale manpower through the recruitment of 1, 300 teachers into our primary schools. This was done deliberately to bridge the identified gaps in the critical subjects and at the same time strengthen the foundation of learning at the level of primary education.

The governor who claimed that efforts were ongoing to perfect the One-meal-per-day programme also informed that the distribution of Special Tablets containing student’s academic curriculum is also receiving adequate attention, which will be fulfilled sooner than anticipated.