Lagos Debunks Viral Message Pegging Secondary School Entry Age
The Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, has debunked a viral message currently circulating over social media pegging entry age limit into secondary schools in the state.
According to the commissioner, the viral message which purported that the state has pegged entry age into secondary schools at 12 years does not emanate from the ministry.
‘The attention of the Ministry of Education in Lagos State has been drawn to an unsigned and undated statement about age limit for Junior Secondary School entrants circulating in the social media. The statement had earlier been debunked in Y2020.
‘The statement says that Lagos State Government will from next academic session enforce the entry age of 12 years for pupils seeking admission into JSS1 to check underage registration and also stipulated sanction for violators.
‘The Lagos State Ministry of Education wishes to categorically state that there was no such circular issued by the State Government. What was wrongly published and circulated was not a policy statement, but an internal memorandum containing suggestions and summary of discussions that was drafted after a consultative meeting’, the statement read.
According to the commissioner, the viral message is a rehash of a similar hoax message that was debunked by the ministry when it was earlier shared in 2020.
‘The Lagos State Ministry of Education wishes to categorically state that there was no such circular issued by the State Government. What was wrongly published and circulated was not a policy statement, but an internal memorandum containing suggestions and summary of discussions that was drafted after a consultative meeting’, Adefisayo stated.
She therefore implored all stakeholders in the education sector to ignore the viral message, stating that the Ministry would always consult with and involve stakeholders in policy decisions.
The viral message which has made the rounds on social media and some websites coincided with entry of new students into JSS 1 in the state and it has caused a lot of confusion among parents, teachers and school administrators in the state.
Below is the full statement:
*CONCERN OVER ENTRY AGE LIMIT FOR JUNIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS IN LAGOS*
The attention of the Ministry of Education in Lagos State has been drawn to an unsigned and undated statement about age limit for Junior Secondary School entrants circulating in the social media. The statement had earlier been debunked in Y2020.
The statement says that Lagos State Government will from next academic session enforce the entry age of 12 years for pupils seeking admission into JSS1 to check underage registration and also stipulated sanction for violators.
The Lagos State Ministry of Education wishes to categorically state that there was no such circular issued by the State Government. What was wrongly published and circulated was not a policy statement, but an internal memorandum containing suggestions and summary of discussions that was drafted after a consultative meeting.
The meeting was held with relevant stakeholders in the Education sector in Y2020 on how to implement the National Policy on Education in the State.
The above clarification was clearly stated in a Press Release from the Ministry in April, 2020. However, the statement was dug up and shared again via social media to create confusion and other reasons best known to the perpetrators.
The Ministry urges the general public to ignore the statement and be rest assured that the Ministry will always involve stakeholders in policy decisions and implementation at anytime.
