By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos State Ministry of Education emphasises that education remains a key and critical component of development.
According to it, how well it is harnessed is the hallmark of the extent of development that any society can aspire to reach in the process of growth and development.
Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo made the assertion at the Lagos Education Conference 2023 held on Wednesday at NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference had its theme as: “Exploring the opportunities in public-private partnership for Education and Development in Nigeria”.
The Commissioner said that the conference was organised to explore opportunities available to further develop education between public and private sectors.
To attain the objective, the commissioner said the government was open to more partnership with key stakeholders to enable it build into present-day students, the leadership competency they need to take charge as future leaders.
Adefisayo said that the ministry had enjoyed a great partnership with Casio, adding that ‘’it was fruitful for us because our WAEC results went up almost three times over with more students passing mathematics”.
“ The partnership with Casio has impact on learning outcome.
“We are open to more partnership with key stakeholders especially where it affects our children because we have to start building them up with the leadership competencies they will need now as future leaders.
“We attribute some of the successes to the quality of training teachers received on the use of a calculator, making more classroom engaging and the learning environment motivating.
“Education is a key and critical component of development, how well it is harnessed, is the hallmark of the extent of development that any society can aspire to reach in the process of growth and development.
“This conference represents another milestone in the effort of the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
“To ensure that the Ministry of Education delivers on the mandate of bringing high quality education to all children,” she added.
The Commissioner said that Lagos State, with a school population of millions of students across levels of education, primary, secondary and tertiary, runs on a policy of compulsory free and qualitative education to secondary school level.
According to her, the available financial resources of the government could not tackle it all alone, hence required a substantial amount of funding.
“It is this self-reinforcing system that will take us on the path of success and sustainability.
“While private sector motive is essentially profit making, it is sound thinking when the sector invests in human capital development through the schools’ system locally.
Similarly, Adefisayo commended Casio, SKLD Integrated Services and other stakeholders who have found a common ground with the Ministry to host the conference.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew Adejo, applauded the Lagos State Government for always taking the lead in innovation in the sector, adding, ‘Lagos State is doing well and other states are looking up to them’
Adejo, who said that the Federal Government had been carrying out similar projects in the sector, disclosed that plans were underway by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to launch strategic and operational framework for entrepreneurship, employability and innovation.
According to him, the framework is meant to enable an interface for research and development with the creation of industrial hubs.
Earlier, Mrs Akinlade Omolayo, Director, Lagos State Education Resource Centre, Lagos State Ministry of Education, disclosed that the Ministry had plans to replicate the model project across the six educational districts in Lagos State.
“We started with District 6.
“Our plan is to give all students to enable them have access to the Casio calculator, not just for mathematics but other subjects like economics.”
Mr Hamza Aoun of Casio, said the collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Education in the training of teachers and students, was to encourage them embrace technology in the classroom using calculators.
Aoun is the Assistant Manager of Casio Middle East and Africa FZE Education Business Marketing Division.
“The initiative will help to educate and enhance the academic performance of students,” he said.
(NAN)