OEQA HONOURS RETIREES WITH LAST DAY IN OFFICE CEREMONY

… Reveals Plans to Pursue New Strategies to Improve Learning Outcomes in Schools

The Office of Education Quality Assurance has honoured its retirees, who bowed out of the Lagos State Civil Service in the year 2020, with a special retirement ceremony held on Thursday at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa.

The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, in her address at the event held in full compliance with all COVID-19 safety protocols, disclosed that the success achieved so far in the OEQA was due to the sheer tenacity, honesty and outstanding commitment of retired officers being celebrated as well as evaluators still in service.

She also showered encomiums on the Agency’s partners and stakeholders who have invaluably and collaboratively supported the office for improved and sustainable quality education in Lagos State.

In her words: “No doubt, with the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, the academic calendar in Nigeria and the world over was disrupted while teaching and learning had been grossly hampered. But the Lagos State Government through the resourcefulness and determination of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ensured that not only did teaching and learning continue, quality education was delivered”.

“The Office introduced online learning platforms and distributed learning packs to students across Education Districts in the State due to the disruption caused by the pandemic in the education sector, while evaluators have continually monitored and supported schools to ensure that new learning techniques like distance and blended learning systems are embraced to help depopulate students in classrooms in line with physical distancing”, she added.

While noting that the evaluators are also ensuring that school administrators put in place and are adhering to COVID-19 safety and health protocols, the Director-General commended the retirees for leaving behind a legacy of hard work, selflessness, great achievements and a solid structure that will continue to hold the OEQA family.

She, therefore, wished them good health and peaceful retirement, while imploring staff still on active duty to emulate the diligent work ethics of the retiring officers, who had done excellently well in the course of their official duties and statutory responsibilities.

During the ceremony, Seriki-Ayeni also unveiled the OEQA projection and development plan for the year 2021, saying the Agency intends to pursue new strategies and interventions with a view to further improving learning outcomes in schools in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.

She maintained that the training and retraining of OEQA evaluators for improved performance and further enlightenment advocacy will be vigorously pursued, charging the officers to continue to give their best in the discharge of their primary assignment to support the State Government's quest for improved quality and standard of education.