Lagos State government on Wednesday called for collaboration in the education sector to evolve a new approach and ensure improved quality learning and best practices in its schools.
Speaking at the Lagos State Education Conference 2023 organised in collaboration with Casio and SKLD Integrated Services Ltd, Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo explained that the state has improved greatly in the area of ensuring quality education with a sustained and robust partnership with critical stakeholders.
Adefisayo explained that the state has invested in digital innovation in mathematics education and other subjects that require calculation and problem solving.
She said the education conference was designed to explore opportunities available to develop education between public and private sectors, stressing that the collaboration with Casio has been impactful on the learning outcomes.
“The partnership has been fruitful for us because our WAEC results went up almost three times over the period we are talking about.
“More students pass mathematics and we attribute some of that to the training the teachers received because it’s not just training on the use of calculators but training on making a more classroom engaging environment where students are motivated to learn because they are learning something that is relevant to them.
“It’s been a great partnership and we are open to partnership especially where they affected our children because we have to start building them up with the leadership competencies they will need to excel in the future.” she said.
Going forward she added that the state wants more partners to improve mathematics and further mathematics, noting that the past relationship to improve in English language has been effective as the State looks ahead for as many partnerships as possible.
According to her “We are not asking them to come and fund what we are doing, we are asking them if it’s their skills, competencies and time they can volunteer and It’s something we will continue to reinforce going forward”.
In his remarks, the Assistant Manager Casio Middle East and Africa FZE Education Business Marketing Division, Mr. Hamza Aoun said the collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Education in training of teachers and students to embrace technology in the classroom using calculators.
He affirmed that the shoring up of students’ learning process and critical thinking through the use of technology remains the primary focus of the partnership, saying the initiative will help to educate and enhance student’s performance.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew Adejo commended Lagos State for always being at the forefront of innovation in the education sector and encouraged not to relent.
Mr Adejo explained that the federal government had been carrying out similar projects in the sector and announced that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, is coming up with a strategic and operational framework for entrepreneurship, employability and innovation, to enable an interface for research and development with the creation of industrial hubs.
Other participants at the conference harped on investment in the young people as the state government and its partners are improving the technical skills needed to face the future.
The theme of the Education Conference is: ‘Exploring the opportunities in Public-Private Partnerships For Educational Development in Nigeria’. (Leadership)