The Lagos State Government has raised concerns over mass failure in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), revealing that 26,592 students from public schools did not pass.
Speaking during a ministerial press briefing on Thursday in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, said 45.7% of the 58,188 candidates sponsored by the state government failed the exam, despite a hefty ₦1.577 billion WAEC fee payment on their behalf.
He explained that the government undertook biometric and image registration to determine eligibility for the 2025 WASSCE sponsorship, successfully capturing 56,134 students.
To combat the alarming failure rate, the government has introduced the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates. Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative aims to deliver 320 lessons in 10 major subjects via Lagos Television (LTV) and digital platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
“This supportive ecosystem fosters academic achievement, creativity, and critical thinking. Every student deserves the chance to reach their full potential,” said Alli-Balogun, encouraging especially boarding school students to take advantage of the programme.
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