Lagos Vows to Stamp out Indiscipline in Public Schools
Funmi Ogundare Peace Obi
The Lagos State government has expressed its readiness to stamp out indiscipline from its public schools, just as it also sanctioned some erring members of staff according to the public service rule.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule who made this known, recently, during a ministerial press briefing of the Ministry of Education, revealed that 85 students had their names in the black book which was re-introduced this year, as disciplinary measure to whip them into line and serve as deterrence to others.
The implication of having a student’s name in the black book, she said, is that any wrong doing by such student could lead to his or her expulsion.
Adebule enjoined parents and guardians to monitor the activities and progress of their children and wards, saying no stone will be left unturned in the efforts of government to achieve set goals.
She recalled that George Abiodun, Braimoh Lateef, Yussuf Fawaz, Saka Wahab, and Justine Harrison; all students of Ireti Senior Grammar School and Falomo Senior High School who were alleged to have participated in the ignoble harassment and molestation of their female colleagues have been arraigned and are facing the law for their lawless attitude.
“I want to emphasise that without any prejudice to the outcome of the ongoing trial, any child found wanting like those Ireti Senior Grammar School and Falomo Senior High School will not be spared the consequence of his or her indiscretion.”
The deputy governor said the government, in its bid to stamp out examination malpractices from its schools and encourage hard work, the state examination board has introduced a Digital Innovation Question Paper (DIQP) for screening test, a process of randomnisation of questions and answers options to thousands of types that have no similarities or resemblance.
According to Adebule, “the 100 questions for the screening test were randonmnised to 38,000 types and 38,000 keys for marking. The innovation is expected to make cheating impossible as each question paper has as part of security features; embossment of candidates photograph, barcode, biodata of candidates and each question paper has its own key(answer).”
She said the state has committed the sum of N11,059,495,203 to upgrade schools infrastructure, provide conducive teaching and learning environment by making available adequate educational facilities in its public primary and secondary schools.
Adebule who also superintends the education ministry said the sum of N2.4 billion was also expended on the construction of 9 new school buildings, N3.7bn on the rehabilitation of 79 school buildings, while another 79 buildings had their blown off roofs replaced at the cost of N941m.
“The sum of N616 million was spent on the construction of 16 schools fence to enhance security of students and staff alike. Procurement and supply of 100 Principals, 1000 Teachers and 40,000 dual bench and table students furniture cost N1.27 billion, while installation of laboratory fittings, furniture and supply of science equipment for 30 senior secondary Schools was completed at the cost of N512m.
In another development, the Lagos State Government has inaugurated the Isolo Public Library upgraded by Zenith Bank under the state’s ‘Adopt a Library’ initiative.
Speaking at the ceremony, held recently, the Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode affirmed that the state’s various library initiatives are aimed at giving students and researchers unlimited access to information and knowledge, adding that it is part of the government’s strategic approach towards building a knowledge-based economy.