In line with the State Government directives on strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols in schools below tertiary level, the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has trained OEQA Evaluators, Proprietors of Private Schools, Principals of Public Senior and Junior Secondary Schools and Head Teachers of Public Primary Schools on safe school protocols.
Speaking during the virtual training, the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, commended participants for expressing keen interest to improve their knowledge on the safe school protocols, adding that the safety of students is paramount to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as teaching and learning continues in Lagos State Schools.
She averred that the training was designed to continuously equip OEQA Evaluators with current information on the COVID-19 pandemic and provide the checklist for evaluation during the monitoring exercises, stressing that the inclusion of school leaders was to ensure that all hygiene and COVID-19 safety protocols are in place in their respective schools.
While affirming the position of the State Government on the adoption and continuous sensitisation of preventive measures to avert COVID-19 infection in schools, Seriki-Ayeni said, “The decision to train the Agency’s Evaluators, Private School Proprietors, Principals of Public Senior and Junior Secondary Schools and Head Teachers of Primary Schools on Safe Schools amidst COVID-19 pandemic is to ensure that students and teachers continue to strictly adhere to all the safety measures”.
“Health and Safety guidelines which include the provision of soap, wash hand basin, alcohol-based sanitisers; thermometers, and instructional safety signs must be adhered to. The wearing of face masks and maintaining social distancing must also be strictly observed. School Administrators of both public and private schools must responsibly ensure total compliance and also notify the authorities in the event of a positive COVID-19 outbreak in their schools”, she declared.
The Director-General also informed the participants that the Lagos State Ministry of Health can be reached on toll-free lines: 08023169483, 08033565526, while the Office of Education Quality Assurance hotlines are 08088084340 and 08083267419. She added that the school authorities and parents must also have established communication channels in case of emergency.
