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The Lagos State Universal Education Board and the Lagos State Examination Board has said that no fewer than 160,000 pupils from public and approved private schools on sat for the 2019 Placement Test into Lagos State Public Junior Secondary Schools today (Saturday).
Dr Oluwafemi Hassan, Director/Registrar, Lagos State Examinations Board, said the examination was compulsory for all primary six pupils in both public and private schools.
He said the test was a transit examination from primary to junior secondary school.
According to him, the essence of the test is to place pupils into government public schools and it is compulsory because it marks the end of the six-year primary education.
“This is a transit examination to junior secondary school.
“There has been a progressive increase in the number of pupils year-in, year-out.
“Today, we have over 160,000 pupils sitting for this test, while in 2018, we had over 150,000 and over 140,000 in 2017.
“This year, we have over 40,000 pupils from private schools and over 120,000 pupils from public schools,’’ he said.
Hassan said there were little or no challenges during the conduct of the test, saying that he visited more than 10 schools.
“The examination has been smoothly conducted which is an improvement over that of 2018 and it will continue to get better. Government is putting in place all necessary facilities to cater for the children.
“There is no provision for pupils to have a re-sit after this test.
“There are facilities for pupils who failed in the technical colleges, vocational centres across the state.
“It is not all the pupils here today that will pass the examination but for those who will not make it, government has already made provisions for them to learn a vocation and be self-reliant,’’ he said.
Mrs Kehinde Ajimoti, Board Secretary, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board told the News Agency of Nigeria that the placement test was hitch-free.
Ajimoti said the test took place in 348 centres across the state and was well coordinated.
She said the pupils were tested in two subjects, English Language and Mathematics, for two hours each.
She said provision were also made for children living with disabilities in some of the centres.
“Today, the placement test was hitch-free in all the centres we monitored in Mainland, Somolu and Kosofe Local Government Areas.
“My observation is that a lot of private school pupils sat for the test, which means that parents are beginning to realise that government schools are becoming better.
“With the number of private school pupils here today, we can say that our standard has improved than what it used to be in the past and we will not relent in our efforts to ensure quality and quantitative education for all.
“We have space to accommodate all successful candidates as the new Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed that all our schools should be renovated ahead of resumption in September.
‘’We will continue to expand and improve on all existing facilities,’’ she said.
Meanwhile another 300,000 student have also been confirmed in Kaduna by the Kaduna State Quality Assurance Authority.
The Authority said that not less than 300,000 primary six pupils from private and public schools across the state on Saturday sat for the 2019 Placement Test into Junior Secondary School 1.
Malam Nasir Mohammed, Director, Education Resource Department, Kaduna State Quality Assurance Authority, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna that it was the first time the pupils would be made to write the examination to be qualified for placement into JSS I.
(NAN)
