‘Lagos education still underfunded despite 2020 increased allocation’

• Observe ICT Enhanced Learning Infrastructure, Resources Virtually Non-existent In Public Schools

Some stakeholders in the education sector have said the sector in Lagos is still underfunded despite increased allocation in the 2020 Appropriation Act. This is aside the fact that infrastructure and resources required for Information Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance learning are virtually non-existent in public schools.

In a communiqué at the end of a one-day Citizens’ forum on COVID-19, safe school reopening and inclusive education organised by Human Development Initiatives (HDI) and ActionAid, the participants noted that awareness on the Lagos State Inclusive Education Policy is low, even among key stakeholders.

They, therefore, said there is need to progressively review education budget to sustain the desired impact and appropriately respond to the new emerging education trends.

The stakeholder also asked the Lagos State government to ensure strict application of education policy in the drafting of education budget beside widen stakeholders’ participation including association of persons with disabilities and recognised network of Civil Society Organisations in the education sector in developing education budget and tracking its implementation.

“The Lagos State government should increase the number of institutions offering special education courses and provide special support for its study starting with the state-owned tertiary institutions, particularly colleges of education.”

The participants stated that training and retraining of special need teachers should be prioritised and teaching aids e made available in all existing inclusive schools.

They also noted that the proliferation of special centres disguising as private schools further lowers the standard and quality of school outputs and contributes to mass out-flow of students from the public schools, especially at Senior Secondary 2 to enroll and write external examinations in the special centres.