Lagos begins safe clearance visits to public, private schools

 

The Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Ministry of Education, Lagos State has begun safe school clearance visits to public and private schools below tertiary level to ensure they are safe to remain open for academic activities.

OEQA had earlier mandated public and private schools in the state to register online on the agency’s website, develop and upload learning plans, which include: operational, communication, environmental and safety & health plans to obtain a clearance for reopening. The process includes schools self-assessment on COVID-19 safety protocols and an online training, a certificate to be issued, which ends up with visits from OEQA evaluators for physical assessment of submitted plans to obtain a final clearance to remain open.

Speaking during the visit to Corona Day Secondary School and Primary School, Lekki, the Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni said the OEQA has commenced the physical assessment of schools across the state. This is based on the clearance request of schools received upon successful online submission of all required safety plans.

According to her, the state government has put measures in place to ensure compliance to COVID-19 safety protocols, which will help reposition the state’s educational system to fulfill the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda of the governor on education and technology.

OEQA, she said, has embarked on continuous professional development training for its evaluators, private school proprietors, public junior and senior secondary school principals and heads of public primary schools, on what is expected of them at this period. Mrs. Ayeni stated that her office is holistically addressing the COVID-19 safety measures in schools to ensure that teaching and learning continues. Therefore, schools must strategically align with the OEQA to ensure the safety of students, teachers and everyone.

Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni emphasized the importance of a synergy between the state government and schools across the state as the best way forward at this time.

The virtual training is to continuously equip OEQA evaluators with current information on the COVID-19 pandemic and provide the checklist to evaluate during the monitoring exercises. School leaders were also trained to ensure that all hygiene and COVID-19 safety protocols are in place in their respective schools.