says the initiative will change the face of education in Lagos state
Owolabi Jamiu Falana, a permanent board member at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), told Edugist that the #100SchoolsVisit initiative was conceived out of a deep-rooted commitment to ensuring every child in Lagos has access to quality education while engaging with the learners and teachers to garner feedback, which helps to solve every identified educational challenge in the state.
Falana explained that the idea stemmed from a desire to go beyond surface-level assessments and truly understand the challenges faced by schools and students. While immersing himself in the daily realities of visiting schools across the state, Falana gained first-hand insights that would inform strategic interventions to drive meaningful change.
Falana speaks about this transformative movement, which he pioneered across Lagos, in an exclusive interview with Edugist. He also disclosed the inspiration behind this unprecedented endeavour and its far-reaching impacts.
When asked about the motivation behind the initiative, Falana emphasised the importance of engaging directly with teachers and students to gauge the effectiveness of educational policies. He highlighted the necessity of evaluating not just the number of teachers but also the quality of education provided and the progress of students.
“We engaged with the teachers and learners at the same time. It is not enough to say you have teachers. Yes, we have 10,000 teachers, but are the kids getting the required knowledge, their performance, and their numeracy and literacy level? Are they changing, or are they getting better? So, the foundation is important. So, feedback from our children is essential to us.”.
During his visits to schools, Falana actively immersed himself in classroom activities, fostering direct interaction with educators and learners alike. By participating firsthand, he gained valuable insights into the challenges faced by the education system and identified areas for improvement.
“Riverine areas have a shorter number of students compared to urban areas. The challenges are: parents are sending their children to work after school, and there is a supervision challenge for school managers. Therefore, we engage relevant departments to ensure that there are disciplinary actions for erring teachers and engage the board to see that steps are taken based on the challenges and gaps noticed.”.
Despite encountering obstacles such as low attendance in riverine areas and supervision lapses, Falana and his team took proactive measures to address these issues. Through collaboration with relevant departments and rigorous disciplinary actions, he ensured the success of the initiative and paved the way for transformative policies.
One such policy emerged from the initiative’s interactions: the implementation of a mentor-mentee programme to foster professional development among teachers. Additionally, the classification of classroom teachers based on their capabilities aims to optimise teaching assignments and improve educational outcomes.
Furthermore, recognising the importance of teacher welfare, Falana said that the Lagos state government has provided official lodging for educators, alleviating housing challenges and enhancing job satisfaction. With increased supervision across Lagos state schools, this further underscores the positive impacts of the initiative and the commitment to fostering excellence in education.
Falana’s #100SchoolsVisit initiative stands as a testament to the power of proactive engagement and collaborative action in revolutionising the educational landscape. With transformative policies and a renewed focus on quality education, Lagos takes a significant step towards ensuring a brighter future for its students.
