LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, has stated that 4,763 – of 5,815 candidates – who applied for admission into the state’s Model Colleges and upgraded secondary schools, have been offered provisional admission.
He said this number, in itself impressive, represents 81.9% admission rate, in what was, according to him, a rigorous selection process.
Alli-Balogun made this disclosure on Thursday, when he was giving a scorecard of his ministry, during the 2025 ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, to mark the second year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Speaking on the recent increment in boarding fees for students of Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools from N35,000 to N70,000, the Commissioner said the increment was necessary to enhance the welfare of the students.
He said, “Just recently, the State Government 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.
“In a significant development, a total number 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).”
Equally, he added that 30,000 out-of-school Children have returned to school in Lagos.
“A total of 30,000 out-of-school children have been kitted and returned to schools in Lagos State, between 2024 and date,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the students were reintegrated into various schools across the state in line with the philosophy of the government that every child has a right to quality education.
He stressed that a total of 407 primary and secondary schools were established by the government within the period under review, to accommodate the increasing number of pupils and students in Lagos.
He further noted that principals and vice principals across schools in the state have now been mandated to teach for six and eight periods weekly, respectively, and this must be reflected in the schools’ timetable.
He added that the need for teachers in the state to change their mindset towards leadership and to maintain discipline in schools, was important.
“In the same vein, the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), have been charged to be more effective in discharging its statutory responsibilities and will be expected to forward uncoloured reports of cases of truancy, sexual molestation, absenteeism, negligence to duty, and all untoward conducts on the part of teachers,” the commissioner said.
