Lagos Sees Surge in Public School Admissions as Private School Pupils Join State Placement Exam

The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) has announced a notable rise in the number of pupils who sat for the 2025/2026 placement test into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) across public secondary schools in the state.

According to LASUBEB Chairman, Hakeem Shittu, the number of candidates increased from 204,413 in 2024 to 210,465 in 2025, with pupils writing the test across 549 centres, including both public and private primary schools.

Mr. Shittu described the increase — particularly in the number of private school pupils taking the test — as a strong indicator of growing parental trust in Lagos’ public education system. He attributed this shift to the state government’s sustained investment in quality education infrastructure and policy reforms.

“More parents from private schools are now considering public schools as the preferred option for their children, and that’s a major endorsement of the progress we’re making,” Mr. Shittu said.

The LASUBEB boss also highlighted the success of the “Leave No Child Behind” policy, which ensured that late-registered pupils were not excluded from the examination. He praised the Lagos State Examinations Board for organizing a seamless, well-coordinated exercise and confirmed that materials were adequately distributed across all centres.

Parents also commended the conduct of the test. Ezekiel Adedayo, a parent who witnessed the process, lauded officials for arriving early and maintaining fairness. He praised the use of technology — specifically the Computer-Assisted Scoring (CAS) and Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) systems — to ensure transparency and objectivity.

Adedayo added that communication with parents was courteous and clear, reinforcing the state’s commitment to inclusive, accessible, and high-standard education for all.