Lagos Orders Relocation of 64 Private Schools

The Lagos State government has directed 64 private primary and secondary schools to relocate because of their alleged non-conduciveness for human and educational activities. The number is from over 6,000 private schools operating across the state.

The Director-General, Office of Quality Assurance, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo who disclosed this at the annual school managers’ workshop organised by the League of Muslim School Proprietors (LEAMSP) in Ikeja, recently.

Soyombo said the affected schools were operating in either swampy or flooding areas or very dirty and poorly ventilated structures as well as in places totally unsafe for human beings.

“We discovered that owners of those schools are only interested in money making and not about safety of their students and workers. So, the state has served them letters and asked them to close down or relocate to safe and conducive locations. Because allowing them to continue operating in those locations would do no good but harm to students who are our future, in particular,” she stressed.

Soyombo, who spoke on “Safeguarding the right of a child,” however disclosed that while some of these schools complied with the directive or pleaded for more time, some instead dragged the government to court asking a reversal of the order.

She however maintained that the action of those in the latter category would not deter government from doing the right thing.

She also urged private school owners to make the safety and total education of their students a priority.

Similarly, Mrs. Taiwo Elemoma, who is the Chief Education Officer, Guidance and Counseling Department, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, asked participants to institute functioning and effective guidance and counseling units in their schools.