ERC condemns N10,000 entrance exam fee into Lagos model schools

*Govt begins sales of forms 

THE Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has called on Lagos State Government to reverse the N10,000 placement test fee for pupils seeking admission into the state’s Model Colleges/Upgraded Junior Secondary Schools (JSSI) for the 2015/2016 academic session. 

  A statement made available to The Guardian and signed by the National Coordinator, Hassan Taiwo Soweto
and National Secretary, Michael Ogundele, informed that the
 decision of Governor Fashola led administration to charge parents and guardians N10, 000 fee for screening test into the state’s Model schools is unlawful.

  Public education, it stated “Should be a vital social responsibility and given the glaring deficit in Nigeria’s school population especially to the disadvantage of the girl child, it is expected that government would make effort to ensure that less of the cost of education is put on parents and guardians in order to promote enrolment. We demand that the decision to charge the said amount be immediately reversed in the interest of the good people of the State.”

   “It is unfortunate that soon after the Lagos State University (LASU) was rescued from a debilitating astronomical hike in fees, the Lagos State government is looking towards the Junior Secondary subsector to implement its anti-poor motives and agenda for public education.” 

  “We urge the State government to live up to its much-advertised free education policy. It is nothing but a show of shame when a government claims to be implementing free education while it at the same time imposes on parents and guardians all kinds of charges running into thousands.”   

  Meanwhile a statement previously released by the State’s Ministry of Education, informed that the State has commenced the sales of forms for the screening test for admission of primary six pupils into JSS1 of its Model Colleges/Upgraded Junior Secondary Schools for the 2015/2016 academic session.

  The State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, in the statement, explained that two versions of the screening tests will be adopted this year adding that there will be the Computer Based Test (CBT), open to only about 20 to 30 interested candidates that will like to participate in the pilot scheme and the regular Pencil Based Test (PBT) with computer answer sheet.

   She informed that the registration of candidates could be done through a customised CD that will be issued to candidates by the State Examination Board upon the payment of the sum of N10,000 per candidate payable into any branch of Fidelity bank with account number 5030000739, agency code 4280011 and revenue code 40200045; Skye bank with account number 1770602459, agency code 280011 and revenue code 40200045; and FCMB with account number 0135582205, agency code 4280011 and revenue code 40200045.

  She further stated that the screening test is the only yardstick for admission of pupils into JSS1 in any of the state’s 15 Model Colleges across the six education districts.

  The screening test is scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the various designated centers, while the pilot scheme of the CBT will hold at the ICT/Computer Centre of the State Examinations Board, Agege.

  She urged members of the public, parents, guardians, head teachers, proprietors and proprietress of primary schools in the state to beware of the information and be guided accordingly.

The  15 Model Colleges/Upgraded Schools include Lagos State Model Junior College, Meiran; Vetland Junior Grammar School, Ifako Iyaiye; Lagos State Model Junior College, Igbokuta; Lagos State Civil Service Model Junior College, Igbogbo; Oriwu Model Junior College, Ikorodu; Government Junior College, Ikorodu; Eva Adelaja Memorial Junior Secondary School, Bariga; Lagos State Model Junior College, Badore; Lagos State Model Junior College, Igbonla; and Lagos State Model Junior College, Agbowa.

Others are Government Junior College, Ketu-Epe; Epe Junior Grammar School, Epe; Lagos State Model Junior College, Kankon; Lagos State Model Junior College, Ojo; and Badagry Junior Grammar School, Badagry.

The sales of forms will close on Friday, April 3, 2015.