LASG Boosts Capacity of over 350 Quality Assurance Evaluators for Effective School Monitoring & Compliance

…As Commissioner Charges Evaluators to be Firm Yet Courteous

As schools across Lagos State prepare to reopen for a new academic session, the Lagos State Government through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA)has enhanced the capacity of its Quality Assurance officials to ensure effective monitoring and compliance with educational standards.

Addressing over 350 evaluators from the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) on Monday in Lagos during the Flag Off Ceremony of the four-day training workshop for Evaluators, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, emphasized the need for professionalism in carrying out their duties.

He charged the officers to be firm, objective, yet courteous in their dealings with school owners and administrators, stressing that they should be regarded as progressive partners who must be guided to conform with the educational standards of the State.

He urged the officials to combine firmness with friendliness in order to sustain the confidence of stakeholders whilst ensuring that the interest of pupils and students remains paramount.

According to him, the OEQA remains a critical arm of the State’s education sector, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that both public and private schools operate within approved guidelines.

Speaking on the importance of the workshop, Mr. Alli-Balogun expressed confidence that with enhanced training and operational support, Evaluators would be better positioned to detect gaps, enforce compliance, and promote excellence across schools.

He reiterated government’s commitment to raising the bar of education in Lagos State, assuring parents and guardians that adequate measures are in place to guarantee a safe, conducive, and quality-driven learning environment for children as the new session begins.

The Coordinating Director of OEQA, Mr. Remi Abdul, whilst addressing the evaluators, emphasized the importance of professionalism and integrity as key drivers of effective quality assurance operations.

On the expectation of government, he said the theme of the workshop, “Strengthening Professionalism and Integrity for Effective Quality Assurance Operations,” was strategically chosen to underscore the importance of integrity in carrying out evaluation exercises.

He described the training as a vital platform for continuous capacity development, noting that it has become a hallmark of the agency’s commitment to excellence and the improvement of educational standards across the State.

According to him, professionalism and integrity remain the foundation of OEQA’s credibility and effectiveness. “Our responsibility goes beyond compliance checks. It is about modelling excellence, upholding standards, and reinforcing the confidence of stakeholders in the Lagos State education system,” he said.

Mr. Abdul explained that the workshop was carefully designed to feature plenary sessions, panel discussions, and practical engagements aimed at sharpening technical skills, strengthening ethical values, and preparing evaluators to meet emerging challenges in the education sector.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Opeyemi Eniola,in his Goodwill Message implored participants at the workshop to sustain the tempo of excellence for which Lagos State has been known over the years.

He said: “Don’t let down the guard of excellence. Continue to play the lead role by upholding the quality of education which has made Lagos State a cynosure of all eyes and a point of reference for other States in the country.”

Delivering the keynote address at the workshop, the Director of General Nigerian Studies at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Prof. Mohammed Mubashiru Olayiwola Babatunde, commended the Lagos State Government for organizing the capacity-building exercise, noting that the theme, “Strengthening Professionalism and Integrity for Effective Quality Assurance Operations,” was not only timely but also strategic in safeguarding the future of education in the State.

He explained that professionalism and integrity are the bedrock of credible quality assurance systems worldwide, stressing that without these values, evaluators risk losing the trust of stakeholders and weakening the educational process they are meant to strengthen.

According to him, quality assurance officers must reflect ethical conduct, impartiality, and transparency in all aspects of their work.

Prof. Mohammed further highlighted that the theme of the workshop speaks to the urgent need for evaluators to go beyond routine compliance checks and embrace a more holistic approach that nurtures excellence.

He stated that in today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, evaluators must serve as models of integrity whose actions inspire confidence among school owners, teachers, parents, and learners alike.

He also called for a periodic review of the policy establishing OEQA to reflect present-day realities and trends in education quality assurance. This, he said, would help the agency remain relevant in addressing emerging challenges such as technology integration, inclusivity, and global competitiveness.

In addition, Prof. Mohammed emphasized that continuous training should not be restricted to local or national levels. He recommended international exposure and benchmarking, arguing that evaluators must be given opportunities to learn from global best practices in order to measure their performance against standards in other parts of the world.

Also facilitating a session, a retired Permanent Secretary from Education District VI, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Onadipe, spoke on “Respect for Constituted Authority, Dress Code, Communication Etiquette, Field Behavior, Punctuality, and Public Image.”

Adepeju Adeyemi
DD, PA
9-09-2025