Education: LASG executes 1,097 projects, introduces 25,000 pupils to coding, other computer training in 2-yrs
YouBy Moses Adeniyi
The Lagos State Government has within two years executed a number of 1,097 projects across state owned public schools, just as it introduced no less than 25,000 pupils in the State to computer coding among other basic computer skills.
During the year under review, the State under the Digital Skills Initiative Lagos (DSIL) trained a total of 120,000 students\pupils across 720 schools and across the six Educational Districts of the State.
They were trained in the areas of Basic Computer Skills, Coding Skills, Scratch, Cloud Services and World Wide Web, Internet technology, Interactive and Visualized Coding, among others.
The program is aimed to provide education on computer networking and coding skills, computer skills and advance worldwide web and internet technology such as cloud computing and virtualization.
Under the second phase of the Initiative (EkoDigital Skills phase 2), a total number of 25,000 youths were trained in computer networking, coding, computing and advance worldwide Web and internet technology skills such as cloud computing and virtualization.
The Digital Skills Initiative Lagos (DSIL) phase 2 was aimed to capture the numerous out of school young population into a training and education curriculum which is designed to equip them with knowledge, skills, and know-how that would enable them to thrive in the technology space and entrepreneurship
It was gathered that within the period under review, the Lagos State Scholarship Board paid a total sum of N218.8million as bursary award to a total number of 6,411 students of the State’s origin in various Higher institutions of learning to support their education.
In addition, a sum of N217.73m was paid as scholarship award to a total of 981 beneficiaries.
It was gathered that in response to the challenges of restrictions in gathering posed by COVID-19 which led to the shut down of schools, the State implemented a community drive in communities to teach kids at their home how to code using Python, Scratch and exposing them to the World wide web and Cloud services while adhering to safety protocols.
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, on Friday during the ongoing Ministerial Briefing at the State Capital Ikeja, to commemorate the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration in office, mentioned that in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry under her watch was able to make huge strides in enhancing the quality of education in the State.
Activities of the Ministry within the period under review centred on improving quality of primary education with 15,000 teachers trained and equipped with technology; improving capacity and welfare of students; investment in technology; review and optimization of school curriculum; public-private partnership.
Others are enhancing special needs of education division; improving access to education for children in underserved communities; upgrade and expansion of education resource centre; improving the efficacy of the education quality assurance unit, among others.
Within the period under review, a total number of 1,097 projects in 970 public schools were executed by the State Government under multi agency execution delivery.
A breakdown of construction and upgrade of public schools’ infrastructures revealed that construction, renovation and rehabilitation works were executed on 322 dilapidated public schools, 300 classrooms, seven new hostels blocks built; with 87,000 dual composite furniture for 775 primary and secondary schools.
Others include the renovation and upgrade of 41 Libraries and ICT centers in public secondary schools to best standard across five Education Districts; approval of additional 66 Public Schools Libraries for renovation and installation of the state of the Art ICT facilities.
Also, was the Ready-Set Work – Jobs Initiative Lagos – (JIL) aimed at preparing final year students and those in penultimate classes in all the State owned Higher Institutions for immediate entry into the workforce as employees and employers of labor by equipping them with market aligned knowledge, soft skills, and business tools.
Under the Initiative, a total number of 28,000 final year and penultimate classes students were trained across all the State owned Tertiary Institutions.
Areas on which they were trained to increase their employability skills include entrepreneurship, work Readiness tools,soft skills, market aligned courses, and project success.
According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, “the Jobs initiative Lagos programme successfully trained over 28,000 participants across the eight higher institutions in Lagos State and have placed over 100 successful participants on job Internship which some of the participants have been retained and have jobs today.
“Despite the onset of a global Pandemic, we successfully trained over 25,000 students in both primary and secondary schools within the 6 educational districts. We have introduced 25,000 pupils to basic computer training and an introduction to coding.”
“We renovated and equipped Epe Divisional Library Phase 1, which is 100% completed and Badagry Divisional Library is also about 80% completed.” he added.
He disclosed that the Lagos State Government /Lagos State University (LASU) during the year under review succeeded in securing collaboration with an internationally renowned University, Cornell University, New York, United States of America to establish a world class Business School, which is known as LASU Business School.
Other projects where successes were recorded within the period under review include: Learning Platform with upgraded curriculum; Project Implementation with Stakeholders OSAE, TGPS and School Heads; Change in Learning Approach; Community Engagement; Delivery of 250 units of desktop computers to schools across the six educational districts.
Others were the graduation of a total of 1,283 trainees graduated from the seven Vocational Training Centres in March 2020; enrollment of 32,288 Adult Learners with 28,845 completing the 9 months Literacy Class during the period under review.
