The Lagos State Government has sealed 10 private schools that flouted the closure directives of the Federal and State governments, in an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as ensure the safety of students.
The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, disclosed this during a monitoring exercise to determine the level of compliance among private schools across the Lagos metropolis.
She said a large number of private schools visited were found to have complied, while schools who failed to comply with the directives have been sealed, adding that the exercise will be continuous and encompassing, cutting across all the Education Districts in order to discourage the nonchalant attitude of some school owners and administrators to the directive.
Seriki-Ayeni, who led the enforcement team during the exercise, maintained that the aim of the exercise was to ensure full compliance with the directive, guarantee the safety of all learners and guide against the spread of the scourge.
She said, “No doubt, COVID-19 has had negative effects on our schools but we want students to come out stronger and better. We want to make sure schools are closed in compliance with the government directives since the number of COVID-19 cases have increased dramatically in recent times. This is a dangerous disease and it is vital that we abide by all safety directives as issued by the government for our protection”.
The Director-General warned of the danger inherent in the exposure and clustering of students in a class in the name of education, reiterating that any school in Lagos that failed to fully comply with the closure directives, without concern for the health and safety of learners, will be sealed.
While admonishing parents and school owners, Seriki-Ayeni encouraged them to abide by the directive of the Lagos State Government to stay safe and healthy by embracing frequent hand-washing with soap, wearing of a facemask in public places and using alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
She implored parents and guardians to embrace virtual schooling for their wards, advising them not to be found guilty of exposing the lives of their children to danger, just as school owners were encouraged to begin the process of thinking through the opportunities that exist at this time to up-skill their staff through online training and webinars.
“This is the time to think and plan strategically to form good partnerships with government in order to get resources for your schools”, she asserted.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
