Lawmakers task Lagos govt on proliferation of private schools

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on the ministry of education to regulate the proliferation of substandard private schools to curb the problem of poor educational output.

The lawmakers made the call during plenary on Thursday while debating a motion moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, on the celebration of Teachers’ Day.

In the motion, Okanlawon said teachers have contributed to everyone’s success and should be celebrated.

Contributing to the debate, Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1) called for special allowance for primary and secondary school teachers to attract quality individuals to the profession.

Hon. Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1), called on the state government to address the teacher-student ratio, while Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 2) appealed to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to resolve their differences so that universities can reopen.

In his comments, Hon. Ibrahim Layode (Badagry 1) said the government needed to ensure that schools on the city outskirts should be of the right standard to encourage teachers to be deployed there.

Other lawmakers suggested various means of making teaching an attractive profession.

Meanwhile, thre Speaker of the House, Rt (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa, said that teachers should enjoy their rewards while alive, and that could only happen if teachers were treated well in service and retirement.

Obasa said the government must ensure that schools are conducive to learning and teaching despite the challenge of the state’s increasing population.