Pupils in Lagos State primary schools have pledged to improve on last session’s performance in their EKOEXCEL schools.
EKOEXCEL is an innovative digital initiative launched in 2019 to transform public schools with oversight from Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB).
The pupils, especially those just promoted to Primary Six, said they hope for excellent results in the final examination.
“… I want to pass the National Common Entrance Examination we will write next year well… ” John Taiwo, a pupil of Hussey Military Yaba, Lagos Mainland, said.
A Primary 4 pupil of the school, Duru Eke, said he wants to do better and take advantage of the innovations introduced in the school by EKOEXCEL.
“Our teachers have made learning more interesting for us since our school joined EKOEXCEL…” he said.
Teachers are eager to do more to improve their pupils in line with aspirations of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Mrs. Bolaji Caroline, assistant headteacher at Lagos State Model Nursery & Primary School, Ikeja , said: “One of the reasons Governor Sanwo-Olu introduced EKOEXCEL is to have impactful education for pupils and ensure they have a solid foundation. We are a critical part of that vision …”
Parents, who had hailed EKOEXCEL’s gains at a conference on July 22, said they want their children to do better.
“I’m happy with how EKOEXCEL has improved my children, particularly the younger one who struggled at the beginning of the last session. By the time they vacated, we noticed an improvement in his literacy and numeracy skills, and we expect much more this session,” a parent, Mrs Oyin Ojo, said.
Mr Garba Hassan said he did not regret withdrawing his children from private school at the beginning of 2021/2022 session following campaigns by EKOEXCEL.
“… I was struggling with the huge fees for my three children in the private school before I moved them to EKOEXCEL school… Now, they are receiving quality education without holes in my pockets. I am happy with the improvements I saw last session, and I hope it will continue,” the business owner said.
Last session, three pupils from the state excelled in National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into first year of Junior Secondary School of federal unity colleges.
Overall best pupil in NCEE conducted by National Examinations Council (NECO) scored 201 of 210, three pupils of Lagos primary schools were just five points behind.
This article appeared originally on TheNation, Sep 16, 2022.
