How Lagos Plans to Turn Around Its Public Schools After Mass WASSCE Failure

Despite an investment of ₦1.5 billion to cover examination fees for over 58,000 students, Lagos State public schools recorded a massive failure rate in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). A staggering 31,596 candidates — more than half — failed the critical examination, raising fresh concerns over the quality of public education in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.
The grim statistics were unveiled by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Ikeja. While the state’s free education policy has lifted a financial burden off many families, the results suggest that money alone cannot solve deeply-rooted educational challenges.
To forestall future failures, the Lagos government says it is now adopting a multi-pronged approach. Central to this is the newly launched Eko Learners’ Support Programme, a strategic initiative designed to provide targeted coaching and mentorship to students preparing for WASSCE and NECO examinations. Officials believe that bridging the knowledge gap early and consistently will reverse the trend of mass failures.
Beyond remedial support, the government has also intensified reforms in the teaching sector. Over 4,300 new teachers have been recruited between 2023 and 2024, while ₦102.5 million in housing loans was disbursed to incentivize better teacher performance. Investments in infrastructure, such as the rehabilitation of 30 secondary school libraries, also form part of the broader plan to create a conducive learning environment.
Recognising that social vices often derail academic ambitions, Alli-Balogun urged students to steer clear of cultism, drug abuse, and gang violence — vices increasingly infiltrating public schools. In response, NGOs and community groups are partnering with schools to promote co-curricular activities and positive youth engagement.
Education experts argue that while free exam registration is laudable, Lagos must prioritise curriculum reform, teacher training, and continuous student assessment to achieve sustainable success. Initiatives like biometric registration of students — aimed at eliminating ghost candidates — demonstrate a shift towards accountability, but stakeholders insist that learning outcomes must become the new focus.
As Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration banks on technology, innovation, and strategic interventions, Lagosians are watching to see if these plans will translate into genuine academic excellence or remain lofty ambitions.