LM®: Sir, as TGPS for Education District V, how are you practically transforming learning conditions, student welfare, and staff performance across public schools this academic session, and what key challenges and policy priorities are shaping your drive to raise educational standards sustainably?
TG/PS: Thank you, Lagos Mirror Magazine, for this important spotlight. Our work in Education District V is deliberately aligned with the vision of Mr. Governor under the THEMES-Plus Agenda, particularly the pillar on technology-driven education. This administration is committed to moving our schools from outdated learning environments to 21st-century classrooms, and we are seeing this vision materialise across the district.
In terms of learning conditions, several of our public schools from Badagry to Ajegunle have transitioned from purely traditional teaching methods to modern digital learning. Teachers now deliver lessons using smart televisions and tablets, enabling interactive teaching and improved student engagement. Very soon, Ajegunle will host what will arguably be the best school complex in the entire sub-region, delivered through the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education. The facilities are first-class, inclusive, and designed to meet global standards, truly a landmark project.
From my office, we operate a daily monitoring system where reports on teaching activities are submitted. We track missed lessons, identify causes, and address them promptly. Furthermore, the state government has directed us to compile schools still operating with the old Jakande-style classroom blocks. These will be replaced with modern prototype classrooms, further improving the learning environment.
On student welfare, Education District V rigorously enforces Lagos State’s education policy that no child should be left behind. Education remains free in all public basic and secondary schools, and any teacher or school administrator found charging illegal fees is sanctioned in line with Public Service Rules.
Currently, 2026 WASSCE registration is ongoing across all our schools, completely free of charge. I personally monitor this process while appealing to residents to support government efforts by paying their taxes, which remain vital to sustaining these initiatives.
We have strengthened guidance and counselling units across schools to support students’ emotional and psychological wellbeing. Harassment of female students is not tolerated, corporal punishment is prohibited, and the Child Rights Act is treated as sacrosanct in our district.
Community engagement has also yielded results. Over the past year, we have visited major communities and stakeholders, leading to the establishment of three new schools, with two more set to commence operations soon, ensuring access to quality education within neighbourhoods. Additionally, UBEC recently handed over a Smart School in Iworo-Ajido, where preparations are ongoing for full academic activities.
Regarding staff performance, our teachers have been exceptional. While we uphold discipline by addressing misconduct through due process, we are proud of the results, most notably, a near 100% improvement in WASSCE performance compared to the previous year.
We actively motivate teachers by easing transportation challenges. Government-provided buses now convey teachers daily from Badagry and Alimosho to Mile 2 and Ajegunle. Promotions are implemented promptly in collaboration with the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, and regular training, seminars, and workshops ensure continuous professional development. Recently, all school counsellors participated in a resilience seminar, which I personally attended despite my tight schedule.
Our major challenge remains teacher accommodation, especially for those living far from their schools, including across state boundaries. This has generated numerous transfer requests, some influenced externally. However, education delivery must remain balanced. We are engaging stakeholders to develop teachers’ quarters, particularly in Ajegunle, Mile 2/FESTAC, and riverine areas.
Our policy priority is clear and unwavering: to fully support Mr. Governor’s THEMES-Plus Agenda by advancing a technology-driven education system. Personally, I am determined to leave Education District V better than I met it, with enduring footprints that will speak for generations to come.
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