The Lagos State Government has stated that admission of pupil into its public secondary schools will now be through a placement examination to be conducted throughout the state.
The State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who disclosed this over the weekend at an interactive session with parents, teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector, noted that the essence of the placement test is to test the ability of the pupils to cope with the rigours of academics at the secondary level, train and prepare them on how to sit and write examinations as well as ready them psychologically for secondary schools’ education.
The Commissioner pointed out that, thus, Saturday, July 5th, 2014, is the date set aside for this year placement test for admission into public secondary schools in the State for the 2014/15 academic session adding that the examination would be conducted in 300 centers across the State.
She explained that pupils are expected to obtain a 50 percent average scores in English and Mathematics in addition to 50 percent cumulative scores in the examinations before they can be considered for admission into public secondary schools.
According to the Commissioner, the introduction of the personalized Optical Mark Reader (OMR) system will go a long way in eliminating the incidence of examination malpractices as each answer sheet has been personalized for each candidate with his or her passport photograph boldly embolden on the answer sheet.
Oladunjoye however announced one week of grace for parents and guardians and indeed those who have not registered their wards for the placement examinations for the 2014/15 academic session while urging them to properly discharge their own portion of the bargain by ensuring that their wards are well prepared for the examinations.
She also advised them to verify their children’s registration details with the Lagos State Examinations Boards at Iyana Ipaja adding that parents whose children falls under Education Districts III & IV comprising of Epe, Eti –Osa, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos Island, Apapa, Lagos Mainland and Surulere local government areas are expected to verify their children’s details on any Monday in June.
The Commissioner averred that any Tuesday in June has been set aside for schools in Education District II comprising of Ikorodu, Kosofe and Somolu local government areas; any Wednesday in June is for Education District V comprising of Ajeromi Ifelodun, Ojo, Badagry and Amuwo Odofin local government areas; any Thursday in June is for Education District 1comprising of Agege, Alimosho and Ifako Ijaiye local government areas and any Friday in June is for Education District VI comprising of Ikeja, Mushin and Oshodi Isolo local government areas.
Mrs. Oladunjoye advised parents against rushing their underage children into secondary schools when they are not psychology and physically matured as this makes them not to be able to cope.
She emphasized the need for them to register their children with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRAA) so that the State Government can plan based on the number of pupils in the schools.
The Commissioner also reminded them that the care of their children is paramount especially their feeding and clothing urging them not to leave everything to the government alone.
She averred that registration is ongoing for admission of pupils into Primary One in the State’s Public Primary Schools stressing that failure to register a child for school attracts yellow card and a consequently jail term.