Lagos Increases Investments In IT To Boost Education 

The Lagos State Government has said it will invest more in Information Technology (IT) in education to sustain the pace set for learning during COVID-19 Pandemic.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, stated this recently at a  One-Day Close Out Meeting of Tax, Justice, and Gender Responsive Public Service Project (Breaking Barriers) in Lagos.
Noting that it was good that an external organisation is assessing how  tax payers money is utilised, she said, “they used to say public education is free, but we all know it’s not free because somebody is paying for it and it’s coming from our individual taxes to the State Government.
“The impact of COVID-19 was mostly adverse, but, like I used to say through that period, I did and hoped that from the ashes of the terrible event something good will come.
“What it did was to force us all to re-imagine and rethink education. Did we know that we could broadcast on television, radio, or give devices to our children and have a web portal?
“Before then, we used to think that IT is expensive and we can’t do it, but it set the pace for us and I am glad to let you know that we will continue to build on the learning from COVID-19,” she said.
The Commissioner noted that a major effect of COVID-19 was increase in ‘Out of School Children’, which led to a SUBEB programme tagged ‘Project Zero’, in which efforts were made to bring students back to school.
Adefisayo noted that Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) worked with the private sector, corporate sponsors, and NGOs which she described as being instrumental to the advancement, growth, importance and impact of educational system in Lagos State.
Also, Executive Director, Human Development Initiative (HDI),  Mrs Olufunso Owasanoye, in her address, said the programme was purposely designed to draw more attention to Gender Inequality with the focus to promote quality, equitable, inclusive and free public funded education for all.
Owasanoye explained that the emphsis was on girls, children with disabilities and other marginalised group through tax justice.
“It is a unique project because of the way it was designed to link tax injustice to the provision of public services.
“This is in a way that it will respond to the needs and rights of all children, as a tool for public awareness, advocacy and ultimately positive change set to record progress.
“The critical outcome areas are ‘4S’: Size of state budget, Share allocated to/spend on education, Scrutiny through active community involvement and Sensitisation of government policies and programmes to the right of all children,” she said.
On the success story of the  project, the HDI Director said that the journey had recorded unions and community stakeholders’ actions demanding for improved quality, inclusive/free public education and holding government accountable.