LASG HOLDS STAKEHOLDERS MEETING ON HARMONISED INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS OF LEARNING IN SCHOOLS

The Lagos State Government, in preparation for the Y2021/22 academic calendar, has assured stakeholders of prioritising harmonised instructional days of learning for all schools.

The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Secretariat, Alausa, noting that it is important to harmonise the school calendar of both public and private schools in the State.

She maintained that the initiative would ensure that students spend productive instructional hours in the classrooms and also serve as a pre-emptive measure in planning for unforeseen events and circumstances.

Her words: “It is part of our mandate to ensure that we come up with a harmonised school calendar for all schools within the State, taking into consideration the lessons that came with the COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protest. These lessons have enabled us to take the bold step to consider the type of flexibility that may be needed for all our schools to ensure quality across board”.

Mrs. Seriki-Ayeni further noted that the harmonised calendar would ensure that schools are held accountable on the same standards, stressing that the pandemic and other emergencies have facilitated the need to create proactive policies. It has also  entrenched the flexibility that schools may need, when they have some circumstances beyond their control, to ensure the safety of students, teachers, schools as well as provide the best learning outcomes for the pupils.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Abosede Adelaja represented by the Director, Basic Education Services, Mrs. Oredolapo Fagorunsi, commended the Agency for its proactive efforts towards ensuring a Y2021/2022 academic calendar that reinforces quality across board.

While stressing that planning is key to quality and sustainable education service delivery, Fagorunsi reiterated the present administration’s determination to enhance the status of the State, through Education and Technology.

In her remarks, Chairman, Conference of Private Schools Association in Lagos (COPSAIL), Dr. Femi Ogunsanya, commended the State government for organising a highly productive and important meeting, adding that schools require a blueprint with which teaching and learning instructions can take place.