Lagos Unveils Policy Drive for Non-state Schools Standard

Lagos non-state schools policy committee inaugurated to standardise private and mission-owned education in line with national benchmarks

The Lagos State Government has inaugurated a 17-member committee tasked with drafting and implementing the Lagos non-state schools policy, a landmark effort to standardise operations across private and mission-owned schools.

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The committee, unveiled at the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, is expected to deliver the comprehensive policy within two months.

It will align with the recently approved National Policy for Non-State Schools while addressing the unique educational landscape of Lagos.

Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, said the initiative reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s dedication to inclusive, quality education.

“The committee is expected to produce a policy of world-class standard. I hope I have your assurances… to deliver unto us within the specific timeline, a document that is both standard and usable over the years,” she said, pledging continued oversight and institutional support.

The Coordinating Director of OEQA, Mr Remi Abdul, described the initiative as a “landmark step” towards redefining education governance in the private sector.

“This initiative is setting the agenda for the standardisation of non-state schools in Lagos and potentially across Nigeria,” he said, acknowledging the technical support of the DAWN Commission and the PLANE programme.

The committee is chaired by Dr Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, Director of Private Education and Special Programmes at OEQA.

For the first time, we are getting it right.

He said the committee’s work would replace outdated guidelines with a unified and transparent policy framework.

“Once implemented, this policy will provide non-government education investors with a clear framework, simplifying compliance and boosting accountability,” Ogunmuyiwa noted.

Stakeholder representatives at the inauguration commended the initiative, describing it as a long-overdue measure to enhance quality assurance in the education sector.

Chief Alaka Yusuf, President of the Lagos Chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, stated, “This policy will enhance the quality of education and ensure consistency across both public and private institutions in Lagos.”

Reverend Father Vincent Bankole, speaking on behalf of Catholic Mission Schools, hailed the move as “a step in the right direction,” while Alhaji Yaqeen Mansur, Chairman of the League of Muslim School Proprietors in Lagos, declared: “For the first time, we are getting it right. This policy will serve as a working paper for every non-state school operator and contribute to Lagos State’s developmental goals.”

The committee will identify regulatory gaps, harmonise its recommendations with national frameworks, and ultimately forward a draft to the Lagos State House of Assembly for legislative backing.

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With its emphasis on transparency, equity, and educational excellence, the Lagos non-state schools policy aims to reshape the future of non-state education in Africa’s largest city.