Lagos State government has commenced a fit-for-purpose educational system in the State with the establishment of Comprehensive School System in 12 Senior Secondary Schools.
A Comprehensive School is a secondary education institution that teaches an inclusive range of subjects across the academic and vocational spectrum and the most significant attribute of Comprehensive Schools is that they do not select students based upon academic aptitude but vocation and skill interest.
The Lagos State Government said it is desirous of empowering students with requisite skills for a self-reliant future; providing a suitable path for them based on their skill competence.
The State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo explained that the pilot programme which commenced with 12 schools across the Six Education Districts in the State, with 30 students per skill in a classroom, has a robust curriculum design which has been developed to manage the students from beginner’s stage to mastery level.
Mrs. Adefisayo emphasised that the first set of students for the comprehensive programme will get a mobile tablet preloaded with the curriculum and courses relating to the skills they wish to acquire.
According to the Commissioner, “The government is investing in this programme to give the students an edge by providing a fit-for-purpose and quality education. The initiative is expected to reduce the number of school dropouts due to their inability to cope with academic work”.
Skill acquisition
At Lagos City Senior College, Sabo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Abayomi Abolaji stated that the introduction of the comprehensive programme is an initiative of government to inculcate skill acquisition in learning, empowering the students with various entrepreneurial courses and skills, adding that this will enable them to be independent and productive in the future.
The Permanent Secretary urged the students to maximize the opportunities and huge investments committed by the government on the programme and consider their involvement as a step to greater exploits and achievements.
The Lagos State Comprehensive School Programme has broad subject categories which include skills training on Agriculture, Tech& Digital Skills, Beauty and Events, Building & Construction, Media &Entertainment, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Communication, Marketing& Sales, Digital Literacy.
Dominica Nwabufo