The Lagos State Government has issued approval letters to new private school owners in the state.
Speaking at the official presentation of the provisional approval letters organised by the Office of Education Quality Assurance at the Education Resource Centre, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, reiterated that as a critical driver of development, the government was committed to enhancing the quality of education in the state.
Alli-Balogun, in a statement by OEQA, praised Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his unwavering focus on delivering quality education, a cornerstone of the T.H.E.M.E.S.
PLUS Agenda of the current administration.
He said, “This is another milestone in the achievements of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
“We have promised the people of Lagos that we would transform education for a brighter future for our children. Governor Sanwo-Olu is deeply passionate about education, viewing it, along with technology, as the driving force for societal change.”
Alli-Balogun stressed that quality education was a vital social investment, and while the state government played a key role, it could not achieve this goal alone.
He acknowledged the significant contributions of private school owners to the advancement of education in Lagos and urged them to uphold the integrity of the provisional approval letters.
He warned that the state government would rigorously enforce the rules and regulations that ensure quality education.
The Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mr Remi Abdul, commended the private school owners for successfully navigating the approval process.
He encouraged them to maintain their partnership with the state to continue delivering high-quality education to all children.
Abdul added, “OEQA conducted thorough inspections before granting approval and organised seminars and stakeholder meetings to align school owners with state education policies and goals.”
The Director of Private Education and Special Programmes at OEQA, Dr Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, outlined the benefits of obtaining provisional approval for national and international recognition, invitations to official events, eligibility to present students for national and external examinations, and the publication of school names on the state’s official website.
Ogunmuyiwa said, “Schools may gain easier access to government and commercial bank loans, receive discounted rates from the government, and become eligible for grants and palliatives.
This event, the third in the series for 2024, brings the total number of provisional approvals granted to schools below the tertiary level to 362.”
