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The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to direct the Commissioner for Education (Basic and Secondary Education) to establish functional Guidance and Counselling Departments in all public primary and secondary schools across the state. The House also directed that private institutions should comply with the House resolution. The resolution followed a motion moved on Thursday by the Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education, Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere Constituency II), during the plenary session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. Presenting the motion, Hon. Sangodara emphasised that education should not only focus on imparting knowledge but must also cater for the emotional, social, and moral development of young people. According to her, a significant number of students in Lagos State face various psychological and behavioural challenges, including peer pressure, academic stress, examination malpractice, truancy, substance abuse, cultism, and career indecision—all of which adversely affect their well-being and academic performance. She stressed that functional Guidance and Counselling services in schools would help shape character, guide career decisions, reduce indiscipline, prevent school dropouts, and promote emotional stability and mental health among pupils. In his contribution, Hon. Sa’ad Lukman Olumoh urged Lagos State University of Technology and Lagos State University of Education to prioritise the recruitment of experts in guidance and counselling. He also called on the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) to take similar steps in hiring professionally trained counsellors. Hon. Kehinde Joseph noted that many teachers currently lack adequate knowledge of guidance and counselling—a gap which, he said, has hindered students from making informed career and life choices. Similarly, Hon. Abiodun Tobun described the inclusion of professional counsellors in schools as a timely intervention that would help instil moral values and discipline in students, thereby promoting a more decent and responsible society. Hon. Musbau Aina added that the presence of trained counsellors would assist in monitoring students’ personal development and provide support to parents, as children spend a greater part of their time in school. He further called for the revival of character-building youth organisations such as the Boys’ Scouts and Girls’ Brigade, which he said promote moral and leadership training among young people. Contributing, Hon. Solomon Bonu stressed the importance of specifying the required number of counsellors per school to ensure effective implementation and adequate coverage. He noted that a clear counsellor-to-student ratio would enhance efficiency, ensure proper monitoring, and guarantee that no school is left underserved. After extensive deliberations, the House resolved that the Ministry of Education should recruit and deploy professional counsellors to schools across the state. Lawmakers also urged the ministry to organise continuous training and capacity-building programmes for counsellors to keep them updated with modern practices. The House further resolved that the ministry should collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including parents, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, mental health experts, and donor agencies, to provide facilities, materials, and public awareness campaigns that will strengthen counselling services in schools. It also directed the ministry to ensure regular monitoring and evaluation of the departments to assess their effectiveness in promoting students’ welfare, discipline, and academic excellence. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
