Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, has declared that the 37 per cent recorded last year in the state in external examinations is unacceptable to the government, disclosing that its target is to attain a minimum of 60 per cent success in students’ performance in all external examinations this year.

In order to achieve this target, Adebule said the State Government has directed principals, head teachers and administrators of public secondary and primary schools to double their efforts by rededicating themselves to duty and making effective use of infrastructure and instructional materials provided to improve teaching and learning.

She spoke yesterday while welcoming executive members of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPS), Lagos State Chapter.

Dr. Adebule, who doubles as the State Commissioner for Education, pointed out that the government will continue to invest in education, knowing that it (education) is the bedrock of all other development. She explained to the visiting principals that the 37% (percent) performance recorded by the students in their last West African Examinations Council examination result is not acceptable.

Apart from embarking on school infrastructure renewal programme across the state, the Deputy Governor stated that the 17 per cent allocated to the education sector in the year 2016 budget was a further demonstration of government genuine commitment to functional and quality education, urging them to complement the gesture through hard work and professionalism.

She further disclosed that the State Executive Council at its last meeting approved the construction of new ultra modern school building to be called IBILE Schools which will be equipped with state of the art learning facilities, in addition to plan to provide and distribute free ICT tablets to students in order to enhance their learning development.

While reassuring schools principals of government’s will to prioritise their welfare both in remunerations and retraining programmes, Adebule urged them to use their position to prevail on their teaching staff to have better attitude to work so that government’s huge investment in education will be justified.

She promised that the State Ministry of Education under her watch will assist government to implement relevant educational policies that will promote the growth of functional education and rank the state among the best educationally developed States of the world.

Earlier in her address, ANCOPSS President, Mrs. Olayinka Omotunde Lawson, explained that the visit was a familiarisation visit and to express the support of the association for Government initiatives to improve teaching and learning for better performance.

While commending the State Government for committing resources towards achieving functional and qualitative education, Lawson implored the government to improve the working condition of teachers to engender better performance.

•Photo shows Dr. Idiat Adebule.