Lagos records 61.5% WASSCE success rate, spends ₦1.4bn on students’ WAEC fees

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 61.52 per cent of public secondary school students sponsored for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) obtained five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, also revealed that the state spent ₦1.4 billion on the registration of 45,598 Senior Secondary School III students for the 2026 WASSCE.

Alli-Balogun spoke on Friday during the 2026 ministerial press briefing commemorating the seventh anniversary of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat in Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the commissioner, the performance recorded in the 2025 examination reflected the impact of educational reforms and targeted learning initiatives introduced by the Sanwo-Olu administration.

He said the Eko Learners Support Initiative, launched in January 2025, was designed to bridge learning gaps, improve students’ preparedness for examinations and provide equal opportunities for learners across the state.

“The Eko Learners Support Initiative, launched in January 2025, aims to close learning gaps, improve exam readiness and give every Lagos learner a fair chance to succeed,” he said.

Highlighting the outcome of the intervention, Alli-Balogun added: “Results are evident in the 2025 WASSCE, where 61.52 per cent of registered students earned five credits including English and Mathematics.”

He noted that the initiative had improved students’ confidence, participation and academic performance in public secondary schools due to its consistency, accessibility and alignment with examination standards.

As part of measures to strengthen teaching and learning, the commissioner said the ministry distributed Essential Mathematics textbooks, Fundamental Formulas of English, Bedrock of English Grammar materials and Hope-Edu textbooks to public schools across the state.

He further disclosed that smart learning devices were distributed to public secondary schools in March 2026 to deepen digital education and improve access to modern learning facilities.

According to him, the state also inaugurated a Teachers Digital Hub in January 2026 to facilitate live streaming of lessons to schools across Lagos and ensure equitable access to quality educational content.

Alli-Balogun stated that educational film shows were organised across the six education districts, while digital animations were featured during the Festival of Instructional Materials to make classroom learning more engaging and interactive.

On school enrolment and access to education, the commissioner said the government sustained efforts aimed at integrating more children, particularly those from underserved and out-of-school backgrounds, into the formal education system.

He disclosed that 4,539 candidates applied for admission into Model Colleges and upgraded secondary schools, with 3,024 gaining provisional admission, representing a 66.62 per cent success rate.

The commissioner added that 11,727 students were transferred into public Junior Secondary School II and Senior Secondary School I classes across the state.

Speaking on infrastructure development, Alli-Balogun said 15 schools were either newly constructed or rehabilitated in hard-to-reach communities, while modular classrooms were introduced in some schools to address overcrowding.

He also highlighted the completion of the Tolu School Complex in Ajegunle, describing it as a major educational facility comprising 36 schools with capacity to serve more than 20,000 students.

According to him, the government supplied 223,343 units of ergonomic furniture to public schools, completed eight new 18-classroom blocks in 2025 and commenced construction of another 18 classroom blocks in 2026.

He added that seven additional classroom blocks had already been approved for the 2026/2027 academic session, bringing the total number of classrooms delivered since the re-inauguration of the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools to 1,416.