… admits 4,763 into model colleges, raises boarding fee to boost student welfare
By Sodiq Adelakun
In a bid to enhance the quality of education in the state, the Lagos State Government has established 17 new schools, comprising primary, junior, and senior secondary schools, between January 2024 and April 2025.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, disclosed this on Thursday at a ministerial briefing to mark the second anniversary of the second term of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
According to him, the establishment of these new schools is a testament to the government’s commitment to providing access to quality education for all.
He said, “a total of 5,815 candidates applied for admission to the Model Colleges/Upgraded Secondary schools. After a rigorous selection process through examination, 4,763 candidates who met the admission criteria were offered provisional admission, representing an impressive 81.9% admission rate,” he said.
The Commissioner also revealed that the State Government had recently increased the boarding fee for students of Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools from N35,000 to N70,000, to enhance the students’ welfare, particularly in the area of feeding.
“This new fee is intended to cover the costs of meals and other expenses related to students in the boarding schools. The State Government aims to provide better nutrition for students, which is essential for their physical growth and mental alertness,” he explained.
The breakdown of the newly established schools shows that two are primary schools, 10 are junior secondary schools, and five are senior secondary schools. Some of the schools include Idi-Araba Primary School, Oko-Abe Community Junior Secondary School, and Olorunnisola-Ayobo Community Senior Secondary School, among others. A total of 17,575 students were successfully transferred from various public and private schools into State’s Junior Secondary school II (JSII) and Senior Secondary School I (SSI).