Lagos approves 101 private schools, warns against hiding abuse

The Lagos State Government has granted provisional approval to 101 private schools, with Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Jamiu Alli-Balogun cautioning proprietors against concealing cases of child abuse, molestation, and bullying. During the presentation of approval letters at the NUT Pavilion in Ikeja, Balogun urged proprietors to employ qualified teachers, enhance facilities, and adhere to relevant regulations such as the Lagos State Education Law and the Child Rights Act.

Failure to comply with child protection requirements could result in serious sanctions, Balogun warned. The schools, comprising nursery and primary institutions, secondary schools, sixth-form schools, and boarding schools, must report any abuse promptly to the appropriate authorities. Alli-Balogun referred to the proprietors as strategic partners in the state’s education development, promising continued support for their improvement and service delivery.

The Director-General of the Office of Education Quality Assurance, Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, introduced QR codes on approval letters to verify their authenticity and prevent the circulation of counterfeit documents. The agency is developing an automated school registration and approval process, allowing proprietors to submit documents online and track applications, reducing the need for frequent visits to the ministry.