The Lagos State Government has stressed the importance of stronger parental cooperation and support in raising well-rounded children who will grow into responsible adults.
The Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, made this observation on a sideline at the maiden seminar organised recently by the Lagos Parents’ Forum.
The event, themed “Strengthening Synergy for Quality Education in Lagos State Public Schools,” brought together parents across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 34 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.
Also in attendance were the Tutors-General/Permanent Secretaries of the six educational districts, school administrators, teachers, and community leaders.
The seminar, held in Oshodi, was organised in conjunction with Ashoka Africa, a non-profit organisation that promotes systemic social change.
Addressing the gathering, the Permanent Secretary underscored the importance of the forum and commended the six district Tutors-General for their full support and cooperation.
She expressed hope that the knowledge shared at the forum would be effectively utilised at home and cascaded to other parents across various communities.
She added that strengthening the existing synergy across all levels—from the ministry and districts to parents and students—is crucial to transforming the education sector of the state.
Delivering separate keynote speeches, the Director-General of the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Dr Sulaiman Ogunmuyiwa, and the co-President of Ashoka Africa, Angelou Ezeilo, also urged parents to take their roles in their children’s education seriously.
According to them, active parental involvement is vital to raising well-rounded individuals.
They also noted that a student’s background should not determine their future success.
Dr Ogunmuyiwa, who was represented by Mr Fajobi Abiodun, the Director of the School Standards Evaluation Department, urged parents not to neglect their duties or leave them solely to teachers.
He stated that every parent must partner with the government, visit their children’s schools, know the teachers, attend open days, and closely monitor their children’s studies at home to achieve great learning outcomes.
Ogunmuyiwa thanked the Parents’ Forum for organising the seminar, stating that the initiative demonstrates their commitment to the well-being of their children, and urged them to sustain the effort.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Lagos State Parents’ Forum, Mr Olatunbosun Akanbi, described the seminar as a wake-up call for parents and guardians to be alive to their responsibilities.
He noted that while parents expect the government to provide basic needs and an enabling environment for learning, they must also complement these efforts.
He reminded the audience that children spend most of their time at home, including weekends, and therefore develop a significant part of their behavioural traits from the home.
While urging the government not to relent in its efforts to bring out the best in the students, he promised that parents would scale up their responsibilities.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of excellence awards to eight school administrators and teachers across the state’s education districts. They were honoured for their strong support of the Parents’ Forum and their contributions to student development.
The event also featured the inauguration of the forum’s new executive committee members.