The increment introduced by the government was over 1000 percent from 30,000 per session to a minimum of about 250,000 per session.
Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye who disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos said government accords priority to education and that it would leave no stone unturned to resolve the crisis.
“I have it on authority as I was in the meeting that the governor held with these students. They were saying the school fees were too high and we told them to go back and come with a programme of payment that they think would be suitable for them.
“According to His Excellency, they brought that in, a couple of days ago and he is yet to present it to the executive council. So the issue of LASU is not something we are putting under the carpet or that we are not looking at.
“We are looking at it and we have asked the students to be involved in the process of resolving it and they are involved in the process. Very soon, you would hear our pronouncement as government on the issue of LASU. We are not that insensitive. We know what is happening and we are proactive and sensitive to what is happening”.
Speaking on achievements recorded in the state education sector, Oladunjoye said the state government has paid N 508. 6 million as examination fees for West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) of 47,000 Senior Secondary School students who sat for 2014 West African School Certificate Examination in the state.
“Government’s policy on education has always been the improvement of our students’ performance in their studies particularly in mathematics, English and Science students hence the introduction of Saturday coaching.
“This Saturday coaching programme has drastically improved the performances of the students in the three subjects judging from the past year’s performance”.
Speaking on impending strikes by the LASU lecturers, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education Otunba Fatai Olukoga said LASU lecturers are not going on strike because of school fees.
” Let me say that the lecturers are only using this as gimmicks not to have lectures in the school. On the issue of promotion they are talking about there is no vacancy, if there is no, no promotion. Nowhere in the world will you be promoted where there is no vacancy.
“It is not possible to promote anyone without vacancies. To be promoted, you must be tested, both written and interviews. It is after passing the test that you can be promoted. For instance, if you are moving from level 15 to 16 and there are ten vacancies but we have 15 people coming, the best ten will be promoted and the rest will have to wait till next time.
“The lecturers are also going on strike because of retirement age. We have told them that the retirement age cannot be determined by the school. They have to write a formal letter to the House of Assembly, the House will look at it, call for public hearing and then send the result to the Executive Council where the government will now sign”.
Emmanuel Thomas
