In a renewed push for discipline and accountability in Lagos State public schools, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, has directed that school heads must now actively participate in teaching.
According to the directive, “Principals and Vice Principals have been mandated to teach for 6 and 8 periods weekly, respectively, and must be reflected in the schools’ time table,” Alli-Balogun stated. The move is aimed at reinforcing instructional leadership and reconnecting school administrators with the realities of the classroom.
He urged school leaders to embrace this policy as a shift toward responsible leadership and renewed commitment to discipline within the education sector.
“We appeal for change of mind-set towards leadership and maintaining discipline in our school space,” he added.
In addition to the teaching mandate, the Commissioner emphasized the need for stricter monitoring of school environments. He directed the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) to intensify its oversight role and deliver comprehensive reports on issues affecting the system.
“The Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) has been charged to be more effective in discharging its statutory responsibilities,” he said.
The Commissioner further instructed OEQA to submit “uncoloured reports of cases of truancy, sexual molestation, absenteeism, negligence to duty, and all untoward conducts on the part of teachers.”
This policy shift signals a no-nonsense approach to educational governance in Lagos, as the state seeks to strengthen school discipline, elevate teaching standards, and ensure that education leaders lead not just by title, but by action.
