Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, OEQA, has presented provisional approval letters to 199 new private school owners.

The approval has increased the number of registered private primary and secondary schools in the State from an initial 5,423 to 5,622.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun who made a symbolic presentation of provisional letters to some of the new school owners at Education Resource Center (ERC) Ojodu on Thursday commended the owners of the schools for the bold step of seeking government’s approval.

He decried the number of unregistered schools in the State, revealing that about 12,000 private schools are operating without statutory approvals.

While disclosing that 80% menace of child abuse cases in Lagos State are from unapproved schools in the State, the Commissioner promised that the Ministry will continue to sanitize the education sector and make the sector thrive for only government-recognized schools.

The commissioner urged the school owners to prioritize the life of every pupil and Student by ensuring their security during and after school hours.

Alli-Balogun reminded the new school owners that the school provisional approvals were done in the name of the proprietors subject to conditions as stipulated in the Guidelines on Establishment and Operation of Schools.

He seized the opportunity of the event to encourage other private school owners who are yet to start or conclude the registration and approval process to do so without further hesitation, saying that the benefits are numerous for the school owners, the children, the parents, and the communities.

In his goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Abayomi Abolaji, urged the school owners to be guided by the drive to bring up children that will benefit themselves their families and the entire nation in the future..

While Giving an overview of the benefits and conditions attached to the provisional approval given to the new private school owners, the Director, Private Education and Special Programmes (PESP), OEQA,

Mrs. Fabambi Falayi congratulated the new school owners for meeting all the requirements needed to secure approval from the State Government.

(The Nation)