Lagos records 61.5% WASSCE pass rate, spends N1.4bn

By Lukman Olabiyi

The Lagos State government has announced that 61.52 per cent of public secondary school students sponsored by the state for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), obtained five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

The state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, disclosed this on Friday, during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

The commissioner also revealed that the state government paid ₦1.4 billion for the registration of 45,598 Senior Secondary School III students for the 2026 WASSCE, as part of efforts to eliminate financial barriers to education.

According to Alli-Balogun, the improved performance recorded in the 2025 examination reflected the impact of ongoing educational reforms and learning interventions introduced under the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He said the Eko Learners Support Initiative, launched in January 2025, was designed to bridge learning gaps, improve examination preparedness and provide equal opportunities for students across public schools.

“The results are already evident in the 2025 WASSCE, where 61.52 per cent of registered students earned five credits, including English and Mathematics,” he said.

Alli-Balogun noted that the initiative had significantly boosted students’ confidence, participation and academic performance through accessible and curriculum-focused learning support. As part of efforts to strengthen teaching and learning, the commissioner said the ministry distributed instructional materials, including Essential Mathematics textbooks, Fundamental Formulas of English, Bedrock of English Grammar and Hope-Edu textbooks to public schools across the state. He added that smart learning devices were distributed to secondary schools in March 2026 to deepen digital learning and improve access to modern educational tools.

The commissioner further disclosed that the state established a Teachers Digital Hub in January 2026 to facilitate live-streamed teaching sessions across schools in Lagos, ensuring wider access to quality instruction.