LASG urges teachers to leverage technology, expose themselves to new tools
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Government has called on teachers in public schools to be alive to their responsibilities as students resumed for the 2024/2025 academic session.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, made the call while addressing teachers during his resumption tour of some public schools in the state on Monday.
Alli-Balogun urged teachers to do their best towards imparting knowledge to their students.
“Teachers must do the right thing, collaborate with community stakeholders, change the narrative, put more effort to excel, and bring new energy and skills using technology to improve the learning process.
“They should leverage technology and expose themselves to new tools in the educational sector, like Artificial Intelligence, coding, which are very vital in this modern world and generation,” he said.
He urged teachers to develop and sustain students’ interest in extracurricular activities, clubs and creative areas, such as jet club, literary/debating society, photography, Boys Scout, Man ‘O War and photography
The commissioner also advised teachers to encourage students’ participation in games like handball, football, basketball and others.
He commended the turnout of students and reception in some schools visited while noting inadequate preparation in others.
“We came unannounced and observed dust, cobwebs on the chairs, windows and roof in the classrooms. We also saw refuse in some schools, which showed the principals were not doing their job.
“This also means that they did not carry out pre-resumption activities and it is not even good for the health of students. I’m not happy about it and have warned against it,” he added.
The commissioner urged the students to start the academic session with renewed energy, be set to learn, read and discover, describing learning as the gateway to success.
He warned students against vices, urging them to be good ambassadors and shun drugs, bullying, fighting and others.
“SS3 students should start the revision of past questions on each subjects as part of early preparations for their WASSCE.The strategy whereby students read two to three months before the examination won’t change anything,” he said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing conducive learning and teaching environments for students and teachers.
Alli-Balogun assured teachers in public schools that the government would always respond to their needs and requests.
The commissioner disclosed that the state government had spent N2 billion as fees for WASSCE examinations for students, saying “everything from writing to collection of results is free for all our students.”
Some teachers in some of the schools visited thanked the state government for enhancing the teaching and learning environment in their respective schools.
They promised to do their best to impart knowledge to their students.
Some schools visited include Ransome Kuti Memorial Junior and Senior Grammar School, Mushin; Birch Freeman Junior and Senior High School, Surulere; Oduduwa Junior and Senior Secondary School, Ladipo, Oshodi and Ojota Junior and Senior Secondary.
