LAGOS REITERATES COMMITMENTS TO PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION

… Presents Provisional Approval To New Private School Owners 

To continuously improve the quality of education being offered to pupils and students in Lagos, the State Government has again reiterated education as a major driver of development in the State.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun stated this during the official presentation of provisional approval letters to private school owners at the Education Resource Centre, Ojodu, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday. 

Speaking further at the event organised by the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Alli-Balogun commended the Governor for his unwavering commitment to prioritising qualitative education that will ensure the State continues to secure the future of its pupils and students in basic and secondary schools across the State as encapsulated in its T. H. E. M. E. S. Plus Agenda.

“It is another milestone in the achievements of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. We have made a promise to the good people of Lagos that we want to change education for a better future for our children in Lagos State as embedded in our T. H. E. M. E. S. Plus  Agenda in being pilot Governor Sanwo-Olu. He is so passionate about education, and he sees education and technology as a driving force to change our society for the better”, said the Commissioner.

He emphasised that quality education was a social investment and only the sacrifice would empower students and youths to achieve a better future while appreciating the role and support of private school owners in the advancement of education in the State.

However, he warned all proprietors and proprietresses who had been given provisional approval letters by the State Government to maintain the integrity of the letter because the State Government would not shy away from its responsibility to enforce the rules and regulations guiding quality education in the State. 

Earlier, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Remi Abdul, in his welcome address, commended the private school owners for their ability to scale through the processes of provisional approval letters for private schools and urged them to continue the partnership to deliver qualitative education to all children in the State. 

According to Abdul, “It is for this reason that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through OEQA conducted inspections before approving as well as organised a series of seminars and stakeholders meetings for school owners to keep them abreast of State government education policies and aspirations for basic and secondary schools”.

He expressed confidence that apart from fulfilling their responsibilities and embracing the accruing benefits, they would also provide a world-class education to their students to collectively deliver growth and development in the sector. 

The Director of Private Education and Special Programmes, OEQA, Dr. Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa while highlighting the accruing benefits, including the terms and conditions to which they must adhere, enjoined the participants to display a higher level of thinking to sustain the system so that education would continue to be vibrant in the State. 

Amongst the benefits highlighted include: the school gaining national and international recognition, the opportunity to be invited to official events, presenting students for national and external examinations, publication of school names on the State’s official website, easy access to government loans and commercial banks’ loans, discounted rate from government, accessibility of grants and palliatives among others. 

A Proprietress, Mrs. Ann Oritshe Fabiyi, on behalf of other participants, appreciated the State Government’s support in recognising owners of private schools as stakeholders in the educational development of the State.

“Possessing the approval, we thought it would be something that is life-taking. Where we had challenges, you encouraged us to calm down, and you worked with us. You made it happen to us. We appreciate you so much, and we are taking nothing for granted”, she added. 

In his remarks, Mr. Adebowale Oketoyinbo, a Deputy Director, School Approval Unit charged the participants to continue to display the spirit of partnership with the State Government as a sign of good things to come to their way in their respective schools. 

The presentation of provisional approval letters was also attended by the immediate past Director, Quality Assurance, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Mrs. Hameedat Mojisola Sanni; the Coordinating Directors in the Six Education Districts, Heads of Department in the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) and other major education stakeholders.

The event is the third in the series of presentations of provisional approval for school owners this year, increasing the number of approvals given to schools below tertiary levels to 362 in 2024. With this additional approval, Lagos State has increased the number of registered Private Primary and Secondary Schools in the State from 5622 to 5785.