THE Lagos State Government has launched the Eko Learners' Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates, a comprehensive programme tailored to assist senior secondary school candidates in achieving academic excellence.
The Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, unveiled the innovative initiative designed to support and empower young scholars to underscore the Ministry's commitment to advancing the interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State.
In his words, "As we gather here today, we are not only to unveil a programme; we are investing in the future of our children, our State, and our Nation. While we recognise education as the bedrock of development, it becomes our collective responsibility to provide our students with the necessary tools, resources and support to succeed.”
The Commissioner emphasised the need to support the improvement of Lagos State candidates in external examinations, particularly WASSCE and NECO, taking crucial steps in enhancing stakeholders' commitment towards achieving improved and better performance in student examinations.
He affirmed that the Government is resolved to create a supportive ecosystem that fosters academic achievement, creativity, and critical thinking and believes that every student deserves the opportunity to attain their full potential, regardless of their background or socio-economic status. Suffice it to say that the Lagos State Government, under Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has relieved parents of the burden of payment of examination fees through its free education programme.
Speaking further, the Commissioner maintained that the initiative is additional support by the Ministry through its engagement with the private sectors and various initiatives within the education ecosystem to ensure that Lagos State candidates record impressive results in external examinations.
The Eko Learners' Support initiative has been designed to broadcast a head-start of 320 lessons in 10 different subjects; English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Government, History, Literature-in-English and Yoruba on Lagos Television (LTV) and other social platforms, with proficient teachers, who were recruited painstakingly through thorough and rigorous screening.
The programme is scheduled for 26 weeks in the period leading up to the start of the public examinations with a duration of 30 minutes per episode and each episode is archived for easy access by learners and teachers. The lessons, after being broadcast on television, are archived permanently on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
These platforms will enable our candidates to continue to engage privately with these resources, give feedback and ask questions, as well as create a collaborative forum with our faculty of teachers and other learners on the forum/forum.
It is noteworthy to state that these lessons are developed and prepared following the Lagos State Government-approved Scheme of Work and the WASSCE & NECO syllabus. Also, the lessons are prepared and delivered sequentially to enable learners to go back and select areas missed out, just as the delivery pace will be most convenient to each learner.
Alli-Balogun, therefore, encouraged students to take full advantage of this initiative, as education is a lifelong journey.
