The Lagos State Government led by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has revealed plans to establish comprehensive schools across the state.
The schools according to him comes with the aim of providing a suitable career path for students based on their profile of intelligence, intellectual and skill competence.
Disclosing this at a Strategic Stakeholders Meeting with public/private institutions and individual stakeholders at The Zone, Workforce Group Gbagada, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo stated that the essence of establishing comprehensive schools was to produce students who can fit into the workplace requirements.
“This is fit for purpose plan in addition to the current education system that will provide opportunities for employment and path to entrepreneurship and the motive is to reduce the increasing rate of school dropout and actively engage the students in their various skills interest,” she said.
Mrs. Adefisayo who joined the event virtually explained that this initiative gives the students opportunities to maximize either academics or vocation/skills acquisition.
The additional knowledge gain according to her “will positively give them source of living while still in school and encourage them to be employers of labour.”
While speaking, Mrs. Adefisayo informed the Stakeholders that the forum was organized to brief them on the plans of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Administration in turning around education through the establishment of Comprehensive Schools and to solicit their views, opinions and support towards actualizing the vision.
According to the Commissioner, the engagement with the various stakeholders is also expected to collate manpower needs of private organisations and how students of the proposed comprehensive schools can add value to these organisations to reduce the rate of unemployment in the State.
The Commissioner solicited for the active partnership and involvement of all Public-Private Stakeholders emphasising the plans of the State to kick-start this project in the coming year as directed by the Governor.
Divergent thoughts
Also speaking at the event, Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Solape Hammond expressed the significance of introducing comprehensive schools as some students have a pathway in academic pursuit while others are more interested in vocational skills acquisition.
Mrs. Hammond opined that vocational schools are the bedrock of construction, manufacturing, digital/technology world, emphasising that it is a clear pathway for creating jobs and filling the gaps of production in the country.
Subject categories
The Executive Director, Lagos Business School Enterprise Development Centre, Mr. Peter Bankole, who is also the Chairman, Advisory Committee, Lagos State Comprehensive School Programme analysed the subject categories for students which are; Agriculture, Tech/Digital Skills, Beauty/Events, Building/Construction, Media/Entertainment, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Communication and other areas.
He also itemized that the key success factors towards achieving the project to include proficient counselling, community engagement, industry involvement and excellent execution.
Getting the best
Also commending the State Government’s proactive measures in securing a better future for the students, Senior Pastor, Trinity House and Chancellor, Well Spring University, Pastor. Ituah Ighodalo highlighted that through this initiative the government will get the best out of the students and turn out people fit for purpose as they can practice various skills.
The Stakeholders Strategic Meeting had a cross section of top government functionaries comprising body of Permanent Secretaries and Tutor Generals, heads of ministerial agencies, captains of industries/organisations and private stakeholders.
Confidence Okwuchi
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