Lagos Govt tasks school principal to tackle declining WASSCE performance
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has urged school principals to develop effective strategies to enhance students’ performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Commissioner Tolani Alli-Balogun made this appeal in a statement signed by Kayode Sutton, Deputy Director of Public Affairs.
Expressing concern over students’ unsatisfactory results in previous WASSCE and other external examinations, Alli-Balogun encouraged principals to adopt innovative approaches to reverse the declining trend.
During strategic meetings across the six education districts, the commissioner voiced frustration that, despite substantial investments in education, student outcomes in external exams remain disappointing.
“I anticipated an improvement in students’ performance, not a decline, considering the extensive resources allocated to education,” Alli-Balogun remarked during the discussions.
In an immediate response to the issue, Alli-Balogun proposed that only high-performing students should be promoted to terminal classes to enhance academic standards.
According to her, this measure aims to eliminate automatic promotion, a practice that has failed to produce desirable academic outcomes in recent years.
“This strategy will encourage final-year students to apply themselves more diligently, ultimately leading to improved academic performance across all schools,” she explained.
The commissioner called for the revival of school activities that stimulate students’ natural learning abilities and support both their intellectual and physical development.
She also stressed the need to reinstate co-curricular activities, which are essential for holistic education and personal growth.
Alli-Balogun instructed schools to implement interactive learning methods such as hands-on activities, experiments, and student-led projects that align with the Ministry’s educational objectives.
Such approaches, she noted, would foster active learning, while also reviving sports and physical education to instil fitness, teamwork, and discipline among students.
Additionally, she encouraged students to explore creative expression through art, music, drama, and other artistic platforms, allowing them to take ownership of their educational journey.
She added that schools should support this by enabling students to lead clubs, projects, and organisations that reflect their individual interests and strengths.
Through these initiatives, Alli-Balogun affirmed that students would receive a comprehensive education that prepares them for success in all aspects of life.
