Despite the Lagos State Government spending over ₦1.5 billion to sponsor public school students for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), more than 31,000 candidates failed to make a pass.
Out of the 58,188 students whose examination fees were fully covered under the state’s free education policy, only about 26,592 passed. This means over half of the beneficiaries did not meet the required benchmark.
This was made known by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja. He described the performance as a wake up call for the education sector in Lagos and emphasized the need for greater accountability and student preparedness.
In response, the Lagos State Government has launched several intervention programs to improve learning outcomes. One such initiative is the Eko Learners’ Support Programme, introduced in January 2025, which delivers televised and online lessons in core subjects like Mathematics, English, and Sciences.
To further ensure proper use of resources, the government has implemented biometric and image based registration for students benefiting from exam sponsorships. In addition, over 4,300 qualified teachers have been recruited in the last two years and deployed across various districts and technical colleges.
Commissioner Alli-Balogun reiterated the government’s commitment to easing financial burdens for families, but noted that only eligible and well-prepared students should benefit from state sponsored exams to avoid waste of public funds.
