The Lagos State Government is facing mounting concerns after it was revealed that 31,596 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
EpeInsights gathered that the government in the 2024, funded WASSCE with over ₦1.5 billion in its bid to support candidates.
The startling figure was shared by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa.
According to the Commissioner, the government sponsored 58,188 students for the exam under its free education programme, but more than half did not pass.
“This outcome is not just disappointing; it’s a wake-up call,” Alli-Balogun stated. “The state government remains committed to easing financial burdens on parents, but we must ensure that these investments yield results.”
To curb abuse of the system and improve transparency, the state introduced biometric and image registration for Senior Secondary III students. As a result, 56,134 students were verified and deemed eligible for government sponsorship in the upcoming 2025 WASSCE.
The high failure rate has sparked public debate around the quality of teaching, learning environments, and student preparedness in public schools. In response, the Commissioner assured that the government is rolling out targeted interventions.
One such initiative is the Eko Learners’ Support Programme, launched in January 2025 to provide extra academic support to WASSCE and NECO candidates. The programme is part of the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda, with a focus on education and technology.
In a positive development, Alli-Balogun also disclosed that the state re-enrolled 30,000 out-of-school children into public schools in the last year, aiming to tackle youth disengagement and promote inclusive education.
To support the teaching workforce, the Sanwo-Olu administration approved ₦102.5 million in housing loans for teachers in 2024 and recruited 4,353 new qualified teachers between 2023 and 2024.
The Commissioner concluded with a call to action, urging students to avoid destructive behaviours such as cultism, drug abuse, and gang violence, and instead engage in productive co-curricular activities that promote learning and leadership.
As Lagos pushes forward with reforms, stakeholders are now watching closely to see whether the government’s investments in infrastructure, teacher welfare, and student support will translate into improved academic outcomes.
