By Habeeb Ibrahim
Lagos State Government has approved Yoruba Language as one of the subjects for testing the knowledge and cognitive abilities of pupils sitting for the Placement Test through Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS) starting in 2025.
This announcement was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Abayomi Abolaji, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Alausa, Lagos.
Bakare Fatai, Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Examinations Board, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday. He highlighted that the new policy aligns with ongoing efforts to promote the teaching and learning of Yoruba as an integral part of the state’s education curriculum.
Mr. Abolaji emphasized the importance of including Yoruba Language in the curriculum, particularly for Primary Six pupils transitioning to Junior Secondary Schools in public institutions. He stated that this initiative would encourage cultural appreciation while contributing to the holistic development of students.
The approval of Yoruba for the CAS Placement Test is a result of consensus among key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), the Conference of Private Schools Association in Lagos (COSPAIL), and other education bodies.
The decision is also in line with UNESCO’s policy of utilizing a child’s native language environment for early education.
As part of the 2025 Placement Test by CAS, pupils will be assessed in Mathematics, which will cover Quantitative Reasoning, and Language, which will include English Studies, Yoruba Language, Verbal Reasoning, and General Paper.
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to addressing the challenges associated with teaching Yoruba, ensuring that the language is taught and learned effectively in schools across the state.
