Lagos students awarded for excellence in Mathematics using app

By Adeola Ogunrinde

Students from public schools across Lagos State were honored on Thursday for their exceptional use of the Darsel App, a technology-based platform designed to facilitate mathematics learning, in the Junior Secondary School (JSS3) category.

The Darsel App, known for its unique ability to provide solutions for both teachers and students, has made the challenging subject of mathematics more accessible and easier to understand. The State Award Ceremony, held at the Education Resource Center in Ojodu, Lagos, celebrated these students’ achievements.

Mrs. Wunmi Tolu-Alalade, the lead consultant for Darsel App and the implementation partner in Nigeria, highlighted the widespread use of the app. Over the past 15 months, more than 10,000 students across 100 schools in Lagos’s six educational districts have utilized the app, resulting in improved learning outcomes. In the 2023/2024 academic year alone, students solved approximately five million mathematics questions using the platform.

“This award ceremony recognizes the students who have excelled in using the Darsel learning platform, answering thousands of mathematics questions correctly,” said Tolu-Alalade. “With advancements in technology, especially artificial intelligence, we need tools that students can practice with. Mathematics, being a unique subject, benefits greatly from this support, allowing teachers to receive instant feedback and identify areas where students need additional help.”

Tolu-Alalade also announced plans to expand the app’s curriculum to cover all junior categories (JSS1 to JSS3) in Lagos State by the next academic session. She called for more partnerships to enhance the mathematics learning process for students in Lagos.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Abolaji Abayomi, emphasized the event’s goal of adding value to the teaching and learning of subjects like mathematics. He encouraged students and teachers to leverage artificial intelligence platforms to improve their skills, noting that technology provides better tools to achieve future goals. “Lagos State is pleased to partner with initiatives that boost the learning and teaching process,” he added.

Mr. Abdulhamid Haidar, CEO of Darsel, expressed gratitude to the Lagos State government for supporting the integration of technology in education. He acknowledged some challenges faced during the 15-month period and promised improvements, highlighting the app’s potential to enhance students’ critical thinking skills for solving societal problems.

Teachers and students praised the initiative but also shared challenges, such as the availability of Android phones, particularly in boarding schools, and a lack of awareness among parents.

The ceremony concluded with awards for six educational district champions, while three outstanding students from Gbara Community Secondary School, Jakande, were recognized as the overall state winners.