Lagos Records 61.52% WASSCE Pass Rate, Spends ₦1.4bn on Student Exam Sponsorship
Lagos State has announced that 61.52% of public secondary school students sponsored for the 2025 WASSCE obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics. The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, revealed that the government also spent ₦1.4 billion to register 45,598 SS3 students for the 2026 WASSCE. The state also expanded school infrastructure, admitted more students into public schools, and carried out health and educational intervention programes across Lagos.
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The Lagos State Government has announced a significant improvement in the performance of public secondary school students in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with 61.52 per cent of candidates obtaining five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
The development was disclosed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
According to the commissioner, the improved academic performance reflects the growing impact of ongoing education reforms, digital learning initiatives, and strategic support programmes introduced by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
As part of efforts to reduce financial burdens on families and improve access to quality education, the Lagos State Government also approved the payment of ₦1.4 billion for the registration of 45,598 Senior Secondary School III students for the 2026 WASSCE
Alli-Balogun described the intervention as a deliberate move to ensure that no eligible student is denied the opportunity to sit for the examination because of financial constraints.
He noted that the government remains committed to supporting students through policies and programmes that improve learning outcomes and examination success rates.
The commissioner attributed the improved WASSCE results to the Eko Learners Support Initiative, which was launched in January 2025 to help students bridge learning gaps and improve examination preparedness.
According to him, the initiative has enhanced students’ confidence, engagement, and academic performance across public schools in Lagos State.
“The Eko Learners Support Initiative aims to close learning gaps, improve exam readiness and give every Lagos learner a fair chance to succeed,” he said
He added that the consistency and accessibility of the programme, alongside its alignment with examination standards, played a key role in the improved WASSCE outcomes.
To strengthen teaching and learning across public secondary schools, the state government distributed several educational materials, including:
- Essential Mathematics textbooks
- Fundamental Formulas of English
- Bedrock of English Grammar materials
- Hope-Edu textbooks
The commissioner also revealed that smart learning devices were distributed to schools in March 2026 to improve students’ access to digital education tools.
In addition, the ministry launched a Teachers Digital Hub in January 2026 to support live-streamed lessons and ensure equal access to quality educational content across schools in the state.
On access to education, Alli-Balogun disclosed that the government continued efforts to expand opportunities for students, especially those from underserved communities.
He stated that:
- 4,539 candidates applied for admission into Model Colleges and upgraded schools
- 3,024 candidates secured provisional admission
- The admission rate stood at 66.62 per cent
The commissioner further disclosed that 11,727 students were transferred into public Junior Secondary School II and Senior Secondary School I classes across Lagos State.
Speaking on infrastructure development, Alli-Balogun said the state government constructed or rehabilitated 15 schools in hard-to-reach communities and deployed modular classrooms to reduce overcrowding.
He highlighted the completion of the Tolu School Complex in Ajegunle, which consists of 36 schools serving more than 20,000 students.
Other infrastructure achievements include:
- Distribution of 223,343 ergonomic furniture units
- Completion of eight new 18-classroom blocks in 2025
- Commencement of 18 additional classroom blocks in 2026
- Approval of seven more classroom blocks for the 2026/2027 session
According to the commissioner, a total of 1,416 classrooms have been delivered since the re-inauguration of the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools.
The ministry also approved 37 non-governmental organisations to support interventions in healthcare, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership training, and career development across public schools. In the area of student health, Alli-Balogun disclosed that 18,122 girls across the six education districts were vaccinated against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) through ongoing school health programmes.
The latest WASSCE performance figures and increased investment in education infrastructure, digital learning, and student support programmes highlight Lagos State’s continued commitment to improving public education.
With billions invested in examination sponsorship, classroom construction, digital innovation, and healthcare interventions, the state government appears focused on creating a more inclusive and effective learning environment for students across Lagos.
