As schools across Lagos State prepare to reopen for a new academic session, the 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 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.
Alli- Balogun 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.
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.
Alli- Balogun 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, Abdul 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.
Abdul 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.