The Lagos State Government has granted provisional approval to 101 private schools as part of efforts to improve education quality, protect children and strengthen regulation of private schools across the state.

The Commissioner for Basic and secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun , announced this on Thursday during the presentation of approval letters at the NUT Pavilion, Alausa, Ikeja. He urged school owners to provide adequate facilities, employ qualified teachers and comply with the Lagos State Education Law and the child Rights Act.

Alli-Balogun also warned school proprietors against hiding cases of child abuse, molestation and bullying, stressing that failure to report such incidents could attract serious sanctions.

The Director-General of the office of Education Quality Assurance, Dr Sulaimon Olagoke Ogunmuyiwa, disclosed that the approved schools comprise 63 nursey and primary schools, 35 secondary schools, two sixth-form schools and one boardind school.

He also announced the introduction of QR codes on provisional approval letters to verify their authenticity and prevent the use of fake documents. He added that an automated registration and approval system had been developed and was awaiting the governor’s approval.

meanwhile, the Director of schools standard and Evaluation at QEQA, Amos Fajobi, urged the newly approved schools to begin the subject Recognition Inspection process, explaining that provisional approval alone does not qualify a school to serve as an external examination centre.

He said the inspection would determine the subjects each schools s qualified to offer,with reports forwarded to relevant examination bodies, including WAEC and NECO, for consideration.

The Director of Private Education and Special Programmes, Kehinde Ogunlana, urged school proprietors to maintain regulatory compliance and priorities learners’ safety and welfare to strengthen private education in Lagos State.